HK starts pre-boarding checks on inbound travelers

 

The new system will bar certain travelers from seeing the inside of the HK Airport

Those planning to go to Hong Kong to apply for non-refoulement or asylum, take note. You may not even get to board that plane that you hope would take you to the city. 

That's because from Tuesday, September 3, Hong Kong Immigration began implementing its Advance Passenger Information (API) System, which could lead airlines to refuse boarding certain inbound travelers.

According to a press release issued by Immigration yesterday,  the API system has been put in place in line with aviation security requirements of the Convention on International Civil Aviation and to align Hong Kong with other aviation hubs worldwide.

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But at the same time, it will allow Immigration “to further enhance its passenger clearance and enforcement capabilities to prevent undesirables, including potential non-refoulement claimants, from boarding flights heading to Hong Kong.”

Immigration hastened to add that all permanent residents will not be stopped from boarding a flight to Hong Kong, as their right to travel, as well as leave and enter the city, are guaranteed under the Basic Law and the Bill of Rights Ordinance.

“The API system will not issue a no-board direction against Hong Kong permanent residents who enjoy the right of abode in Hong Kong,” assured Immigration.

Under Hong Kong’s API Regulation, aircraft operators are obliged to transmit advance information to Immigration about flights and passengers heading to Hong Kong.

“During check-in for a flight heading to Hong Kong, the aircraft operator will capture the required API data from a traveller's travel document and transmit the API data of each traveller and the aircraft information to the API System, which will instantly process the information and provide a response message, i.e. a board or no-board direction, for each traveller back to the aircraft operator,” said the statement.

“The aircraft operator shall act upon the direction given through the API System, i.e. to allow or not allow specific travellers to board the aircraft heading to Hong Kong."

Immigration added that the rollout of the API system will be done in phases to allow sufficient time for over 100 aircraft operators to get connected. Once in place, a transitional period of around 12 months will also be adopted before the Regulation providing for offences and defences take effect starting from Sept 1, 2025.

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DH accused of borrowing ATM card charged with money laundering

 

File photo

A Filipina accused of borrowing a fellow domestic helper’s ATM card that ended up being used for money laundering, was returned to jail today after her offer of cash bail was refused at Eastern Court.

Michelle Valenzuela, 46 years old, was charged with money laundering for her role in the case.

In court, she paused while being led out of court, to ask if her lawyer’s offer of $1,000 cash bail had been accepted, but Principal Magistrate Don So confirmed he had rejected it.

Earlier, the prosecutor explained the case on questioning by Magistrate So, who asked why Valenzuela was being charged when the Hang Seng Bank ATM (automatic teller machine) card mentioned in the case was not hers.

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The prosecutor said the ATM card was owned by Prosecution Witness No. 1, Richel Gania, who testified that Valenzuela borrowed it from her.

“So you mean she’s a middle man?” he asked.

The prosecutor reiterated Gania’s testimony that it was borrowed from her by Valenzuela before it ended up getting deposits totaling $131,000, described by the police complaint as “any person’s proceeds of an indictable crime,” between January 2020 and March 4, 2020.

The case was adjourned to Oct. 23.

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Unifil warns anew of forced collection of govt fees from OFWs

Unifil protests outside the Consulate against the forced OFW contributions in Taiwan

Members of United Filipinos in Hong Kong staged a rally on Sunday, Sept.1, to protest against the compulsory collection of government fees from overseas Filipino workers in Taiwan.

According to the protesters, the “No Pay, No Work” order of the Philippines’ Manila Economic and Cultural Office in Taiwan took effect on the same day.

The order reportedly states that OFW contracts will no longer be verified unless they can show proof that they are active members of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Social Security System (SSS) and the government’s home financing agencyPag-IBIG.

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In a statement, Unifil chairperson Dolores Balladares warned Hong Kong could be next in line for the re-implementation of the mandatory collection of government fees from OFWs, a plan that was halted amid the pandemic following widespread protests from Filipinos abroad.

“We are worried that what is happening in Taiwan will also happen in HK, because for the past five years, these mandatory collections of SSS, Pag-IBIG, PhilHealth, and other fees were not strictly implemented because of the loud and wide resistance of OFWs not only in HK but globally,” sai Balladares.

A separate protest was held on Chater Road in Central

She lamented that the current government of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. is making only superficial efforts to improve the lives of OFWs through various initiatives by OWWA, such as the provision of OFW lounges and the first-ever OFW Center in Hong Kong.

“Instead, what it has done now is to collect money from OFWs and not give them a choice but to pay because there is repercussion, just like what is happening now in Taiwan,” added Balladares.

She likened the new move to an executive order issued in 1984 by the president’s late father, Ferdinand Marcos, Sr., which directed all OFWs to present proof that they were remitting money to their families in the Philippines, at the pain of not having their contract and passport applications processed.

The protesters also took the opportunity to praise their counterparts in Taiwan for immediately sounding the alarm and calling on MECO to reverse its order and vow not to reissue it.

Unifil vowed to continue its protest against the mandatory fees, saying it was due to concerted action by OFW groups around the world that the law mandating the forced collection of higher membership fees in PhilHealth was held in abeyance in 2021.

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HK raises Signal 1 as storm exits North Luzon

 

Weather map from Pagasa shows storm's track.

Hong Kong raised Standby Signal No. 1  at 5:40 this afternoon as Tropical Storm Yagi swept out of Luzon via Ilocos Norte and set a northwest path through northern China Sea, aiming for Hainan island and threatening to come to within 520 kilometers south of the territory.

According to forecasts, the storm is expected to strengthen into a typhoon from its present maximum sustained winds of 85 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 105 km/h.

Hong Kong had another hot day today, with a peak of 34 degree Celsius, and is expected to remain mostly sunny and cloudy tomorrow before scattered rains and gusts start by late afternoon.

Friday is forecast to be the wettest day, when the typhoon will be nearest.

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In its forecast, Hong Kong Observatory said: “The weather will deteriorate on Thursday and Friday. Winds will further strengthen progressively. There will be heavy squally showers. Seas will be rough with swells. The weather will still be unsettled over the weekend.”

Flash floods killed at least 3 people in Antipolo city, including a pregnant woman

In the Philippines, where Storm Enteng caused millions in property and crop damage by dumping rains brought by the seasonal Southwest Monsoon on most of Luzon and Visayas, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) listed 10 confirmed deaths.

Seven of the fatalities, mostly due to landslide, were reported in Antipolo City, two in Central Visayas, and one in Western Visayas.

The NDRRMC said Enteng affected 147,024 people in Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Central Luzon, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, and Central Visayas

Pagasa weather forecasters expect more rains over the next three days, especially on the coastal areas of western Luzon. 

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Octopus card found in Sham Shui Po costs DH $3,097

 

Store where stolen Octopus card was used (Google Maps photo)

A Filipina domestic helper has been fined a total of $3,000 and made to pay $96.90 in compensation after she pleaded guilty to theft for not returning an Octopus card she had found, and using it for two purchases.

S. Barbon, 47 years old, was meted the penalty after she pleaded guilty before Principal Magistrate Ivy Chui last Aug 29 at the West Kowloon Court.

Barbon was fined $1,000 each for three counts of theft - the first, for not returning the Octopus card she found somewhere in Sham Shui Po last April 22, and then using it on two occasions to buy goods. 

The personalized card was in the name of a Chinese individual. 

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The second fine of $1,000 was for a $64 purchase using the card at the Chuen Fung Dispensary in Sterling Mall in Mei Foo Soon Chuen in Kowloon.

In addition, she was made to pay $64 to Octopus Cards Ltd., as the amount was a “chose in action”, or a debt owed by the company to the card owner.

She was also fined $1,000 for using the Octopus card for a $32.90 purchase at a Watsons store in Sterling Mall.

She was made to pay $32.90 to Octopus Cards Ltd., as the company owes the amount to the card owner.

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Convicted burglar fails to get High Court nod on asylum bid

 

The High Court, where the Court of First Instance holds it proceedings 

A Filipino overstayer jailed for three years for 12 counts of burglary and one of theft, has failed to convince the High Court to allow him to apply for a judicial review of earlier decisions rejecting his application for asylum in Hong Kong.

Jefrey M. Quiatchon, who was convicted last Nov. 10 at the District Court for entering and taking various gadgets, cash and three letters from 12 restaurants in Mongkok and Sham Shui Po in July last year, arrived in Hong Kong as a tourist on June 14, 2018 and did not leave as required two weeks later.

Quiatchon, 37 years old, surrendered to the Immigration Department on July 3, 2018 and subsequently sought non-refoulement, claiming that he would be killed if sent back to the Philippines because he witnessed the murder of two persons in Bacolod City in 2017 and assisted police in the investigation, for which he received death threats.

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In its ruling, the Court of First Instance said that the Director of Immigration and the Torture Claims Appeal Board found “no substantial grounds for believing that he would be in danger of being harmed or killed by those murderers” and that he could get state and police protection, being a witness to a crime.

Since “the risk of harm in his claim if real is a localized one and that it is not unreasonable or unsafe for him to relocate to other part of the Philippines, there is simply no justification to afford him with non-refoulement protection in Hong Kong,” the CFI added in a decision ordered by Deputy High Court Judge Bruno Chan and signed last Aug. 27 by Christine Chung for the High Court Registrar.

“… having considered the decisions of both the Director and the Board with rigorous examination and anxious scrutiny, I do not find any error of law or procedural unfairness in either of them, nor any failure on their part to apply high standards of fairness in their consideration and assessment of the Applicant’s claim,”it added.

It also noted that Quiatchon did not give “any proper ground for his intended challenge” so “… I do not find any reasonably arguable basis for his intended challenge or any merits in his intended application either.”

At present, Quiatchon is serving a three-year jail term for entering and taking various gadgets and cash from 12 restaurants in Mongkok and Sham Shui Po, and a separate charge of taking letters addressed to three individuals, to which he pleaded guilty.

(See story on the District Court ruling on Quiatchon’s burglary case by tapping here: https://www.sunwebhk.com/2023/11/asylum-seeker-jailed-36-months-for.html)

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All-Filipino chess team wins big at Asian fete

Team members are all smiles as they pose with Vice Consul Alan Revote

The Filipino Chess Club Hong Kong, made up mostly of overseas Filipino workers, won one of the top prizes at the recently concluded Asian Rapid Chess Team Championship 2024, held from Aug 22 to 24 at Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Wan Chai.

All members of the FCC-HK went home with a medal each after their team won first prize in the U2200 category, beating a number of high-ranking chess teams across Asia.

Team captain Edwin Borigas led the winning team, which showed exceptional skill and determination especially during the final stretch of the competition, particularly FM Daniel Causo and NM Rolly Parondo.

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Fighting off initial setbacks, FCC HK rallied back to clinch a crucial win in their final match, earning for themselves a well-deserved place in the top standings.

Vice Consul Allan G. Revote who attended the event to show support for FCC-HK, was happy to witness their remarkable win. He said that the team’s victory exemplifies the Filipino community’s spirit of camaraderie and excellent sportsmanship.

“The Consulate looks forward to their success and remains committed to supporting their future endeavors,” said VC Revote.

Apart from Borigas, Causo and Parondo the other members of FCC HK team were Julie Ann Mendez, Felix Gonzales, Emir Gamis and Gerald Felipe.

The Asian Rapid Chess Team Championship 2024  showcased top talent from across the Asia-Pacific region.  With a US$30,000 prize, the event attracted over 500 participants from various Asian Federations, all competing for the championship title.

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Filipina DH killed self over money problems, police say

 

The Filipina was found on the podium of this building in Tsuen Wan

A 36-year-old Filipina working as a domestic helper fell to her death in a Tsuen Wan estate this afternoon, apparently from suicide.

A police spokeswoman said the Filipina was found unconscious by a security guard on the podium of Nanchang House in Tsuen Wan Centre, Tsuen King Circuit, at around 3pm, and called the police.

Officers who responded to the call rushed the Filipina to Yan Chai Hospital in Tuen Mun, but she was declared dead on arrival.

A suicide note found at the scene indicated that the victim had been having money problems, said the police.

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An investigation is still underway to find the exact cause of death.

Friends who have been grieving over the death of "Menchu" said they were shocked as she had promised to see them in church at 3pm today, just about the time she killed herself.

Photos they shared on Facebook showed a comely young woman who was active in church and regularly practiced tae kwon do. 

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They rued that she did not share her problems with them, and asked how she could leave her only child and parents in grief.

Officers at the Migrant Workers Office confirmed the report about the Filipina’s death, saying they were informed by the police.

The employer who met with them this afternoon reportedly relayed the sad news to the victim’s husband.  

This is the fourth apparent suicide case this year involving Filipino domestic workers, with the previous three all having hanged themselves.

A fourth one tried to kill herself in March by downing bleach, but survived.

Filipinos struggling with depression may call the hotlines of the Migrant Workers Office at the Philippine Consulate, 6345 9324 or the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, 5529 1880 or the Assistance to Nationals, 9155 4023.

Alternatively, they may call the 24-hour multi-lingual hotline of The Samaritans Hong Kong: 2896 0000.

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2 Pinoys avoid jail after pleading guilty to overstaying

 

Two Filipinas charged with overstaying avoided getting jailed after they pleaded gulty at the Shatin court on Friday (Aug. 30).

While Genevie Borjal and J.ulie Ann Olchino were given prison terms by Principal Magistrate Cheang Kei-hong for the charge of breach of condition of stay, sentences were suspended so they would not be jailed as long as they do not commit any offense during the suspension.

Borjal, 33 years old, was sentenced to nine weeks in prison which was reduced by a third to six weeks for her guilty plea, suspended for 18 months.

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She was charged with overstaying between Sept. 3, 2022 and July 30, 2024. She did not leave after the two-week period given her when she was terminated on July 3, 2022.

In mitigation, her lawyer said she was remorseful and she surrendered to the Immigration Department because she wanted to go home to visit her sick mother.

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Olchino, aged 36, was sentenced to 12 days in prison, suspended for 12 months.

She had overstayed for four months after the expiration of the two-week grace period following her termination last April 5.

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PCG warns of passport ‘fixers’

 

Personal appearance is required for all Philippine passport applicants 

The Philippine Consulate has issued a warning on Facebook about “fixers” who offer to help Filipinos obtain travel documents in exchange for a fee of at least $1,000.

The Consulate did not cite any specifics in its post yesterday, Aug. 30, but said it only charges $240 for a travel document (passport or one-way travel document) and $200 for affidavits of loss or undertaking.

“The Consulate wishes to stress that these illegal fixers are not in any way connected to the Consulate or any of its personnel,” the advisory said.

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Vice Consul George Soriano who heads the assistance to nationals section of the Consulate, said the cases reported to them involved Philippine residents who paid to get their passport applications processed by the fixers.

“They might have the wrong idea that they can apply without personal appearance,” he said.

In both instances, or when applying for a passport or executing an affidavit, the applicant is required to appear in person at the Consulate.

Passport applicants must personally appear to get their photos and biometrics taken, while they should appear before an officer authorized to administer oaths when executing an affidavit.

Soriano clarified the victims in these cases did not include Filipino domestic workers who pawned their passports to obtain loans, an illegal practice that appears to have become prevalent again lately.

All those who apply for new passports either because they lost them or had pawned them still appear before him to apply for a replacement, said Soriano.

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These cases are dealt with on a case-to-case basis, and if the applicant urgently needs to fly home, a travel document is issued, he added. 

This would mean applying for a new passport back in the Philippines, if the person involved needs to travel back to Hong Kong or other places abroad.

To obtain a replacement passport, one is required to execute an affidavit of loss, which could make the applicant pay even more money to a fixer, again, without realizing that a personal appearance is also required for this purpose.

“The Consulate reminds the public to be vigilant and to only transact directly with the Consulate’s personnel for consular services such as issuances of travel documents, passports, notarial services and civil registry services at the 14^th floor, United Centre, 95 Queensway, Admiralty,” said the advisory.

Anyone who is victimized by these so-called fixers is urged to report immediately to the ATN section through telephone numbers 2823-8514, 2823-8513, 2823-8516 or 2823-8505 or email to atn.hkpg@gmail.com

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Court ends Filipino’s effort to delay immigration, money laundering cases

 

Accused is charged with lending his identity to someone for a fee

A Filipino accused of letting someone else use his permanent resident ID to get a job and then collecting payment in return, is now detained in jail to await his trial after a Shatin magistrate entered a not guilty plea for him.

Acting Principal Magistrate Cheang Kei-hong remanded Ricardo de Austria, 53 years old, in jail custody after noting that he had asked for adjournments in 10 previous hearings, which were granted because he kept presenting new lawyers who needed time to study his case.

“Let’s see if staying in jail will make you more efficient,” Magistrate Cheang said in a hearing Friday (Aug. 30), chiding  de Austria for wasting the court’s time.

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He also increased de Austria’s bail to $50,000 in cash from $1,000, with conditions such as surrender of his Philippine passport, reporting to police regularly and not leaving his current address without informing the police one day ahead.

“You should be able to afford that,” Magistrate Cheang said, noting that  de Austria previously hired private lawyers to request three of the 10 adjournments.

Since the defendant was unable to post the new bail, he was ordered detained until his next court appearance which has been set down on Nov. 4 for a pre-trial review. The actual trial is scheduled for Nov. 18-19.

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De Austria is charged, along with fellow Filipino Leila Fonte, of transferring an identity card to another person, which is punishable under section 7AA(1)(a) of the Registration of Persons Ordinance.

He is accused of lending his HKID card to Fonte in 2020; the card was subsequently used by Fonte’s asylum seeker-boyfriend to get a job.

He is also charged, along with Fonte, of dealing with property that represents proceeds from a crime, a violation of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance, for the $414,781.33 deposited into his Hang Seng Bank account between Aug. 6, 2020 and Sept. 7, 2022.

The amount represented payment to de Austria for the use of his HKID.

Fonte was jailed for three years last May after pleading guilty to eight offenses, including allowing her HKID card to be used by a former domestic helper who was among those rounded up in an anti-illegal work crackdown of the Immigration Department.

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