Phila Siu
ABS-CBN News
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Past articles by Phila:
Tiananmen crackdown: Ban on vigil but Hongkongers make plans to mark June 4
Since Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law on Hong Kong last June banning acts of subversion, secession, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces, concerns have mounted that the organisers of the vigil, as well as those who attend it, risk being held in breach of the law. → Read More
Future of Hong Kong's Apple Daily on the line after freezing of founder Jimmy Lai's assets, China News
Hong Kong's Apple Daily has said without further cash injections, its parent company can survive only another nine or 10 months after national security police froze nearly HK$500 million (S$86 million) worth of founder Jimmy Lai Chee Ying's assets, as experts warned the newspaper's future was on the line. Analysts said they believed Friday's (May 14) move to block Lai's... → Read More
Hong Kong’s national security police freeze nearly HK$500 million in assets belonging to media tycoon Jimmy Lai
Sources say the frozen assets include all 70 per cent of Lai’s shares in his Next Digital media company and his holdings in three other firms. → Read More
Repeated Covid-19 tests just ploy to force us to get jab, Hong Kong helpers say, China News
Hong Kong's domestic workers say the government is unfairly forcing them to take a Covid-19 vaccine or else face the risk of undergoing repeated mandatory testing after authorities suddenly ordered them to be screened again. Although Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet Ngor revealed on Tuesday (May 11) she was dropping her plan to require that the city's roughly 370,000... → Read More
Latest mutated Covid-19 cases raise fears of invisible transmission in Hong Kong, China News
The genomes of the latest two mutated Covid-19 infections in Hong Kong are identical to the first variant case detected in the community, a study revealed on Saturday (May 1), raising fears over the emergence of invisible transmission chains in the city. The news came as the government's plans to contain the spread of the mutated strains by requiring foreign... → Read More
Privacy watchdog demands Facebook tell Hong Kong users personal data was leaked
While the hack occurred in 2019, Ada Chung, privacy commissioner for personal data, notes information taken can ‘still be used’ by criminals. More than three million city residents among those whose usernames, email addresses, birth dates and other information were released over the weekend. → Read More
Hong Kong employment agencies reject calls for Philippines flight ban
Agencies dealing with the employment of foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong have rejected calls for flights from the Philippines to be banned, and said workers should be vaccinated against COVID-19 before entering the city. → Read More
Murder victim's mother sends replica of suitcase daughter was found in to suspect, China News
On Christmas in Hong Kong last year, Reverend Peter Koon Ho-ming received a surprise gift – a pink suitcase similar to the one that Taiwanese police found three years ago containing the body of a pregnant woman. This article was first published in South China Morning Post. → Read More
HK immigration dep't rejects 319 visa applications from ‘job-hopping’ domestic helpers
A group representing migrant workers reacts angrily to suggestions domestic helpers are switching jobs so they can rack up repeat severance payments. The Immigration Department figures reveal a 93 percent increase over two years in visa rejections issued to helpers suspected of ‘job hopping’. → Read More
WhatsApp postpones privacy changes; HK experts say outcry already evolved into crisis of confidence
WhatsApp says users will now have until May, rather than next month, to decide whether to consent to new data-sharing terms. But Hong Kong experts say the move is unlikely to stem the exodus of users, even if there are ‘not many privacy issues with the new policy’. → Read More
Unions in the dark: suddenness of Cathay’s staff cuts sparks calls for collective bargaining law to protect Hong Kong workers
Airline did not consult unions on restructuring, lay-offs, saying changes are vital to ensure survival. → Read More
Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai, two employees charged with fraud, China News
Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai Chee-ying was charged with fraud on Wednesday night but not for alleged collusion with foreign forces, a crime covered under the city’s sweeping national security law that was originally cited during his August arrest. The Next Digital founder, who is expected to be detained overnight, arrived at Mong Kok Police Station at about 12.52pm,... → Read More
Hong Kong bars and nightclubs to shut, as city sees spike in Covid-19 cases, China News
Bars, nightclubs, karaoke lounges, and bath houses are among some of the entertainment venues in Hong Kong that will be forced to close again because of the coronavirus, sources said on Tuesday, as the city faced about 83 new cases of Covid-19. The tougher measures came after Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor earlier revealed plans to tighten testing after... → Read More
Police: Hong Kong juveniles becoming victims of child pornography, sex crimes amid pandemic
There have been 85 reports of unlawful sexual intercourse between January and September this year, compared with 71 over the same period last year. ‘Sextortion’ cases jumped to 616 during the first three quarters of this year from 171 over the whole of last year. → Read More
Deadly blaze sounds alarm over Hong Kong's unlicensed 'fire hazard' restaurants, China News
The unlicensed restaurant at the centre of Hong Kong’s worst fire tragedy in nearly a decade is likely to be just one of many similar city establishments frequented by members of ethnic minorities due to a lack of proper facilities where they can gather, concerned residents have said. Observers said Sunday’s deadly inferno at the Nepalese diner in Yau Ma Tei... → Read More
National security law: Hong Kong residents, protesters flock to Taiwan, but is it the right destination?
A growing number of Hongkongers have set their sights on the island in recent years. Many arrive lawfully but others have tried illegal means to get there. → Read More
Hong Kong to suspend extradition deals with Australia, UK and Canada, China News
Beijing on Tuesday ordered Hong Kong to suspend extradition and other criminal justice cooperation agreements with Britain, Australia and Canada in tit-for-tat retaliation for similar action they took against the city over the imposition of the national security law . The Chinese foreign ministry warned New Zealand, a member of the so-called Five Eyes intelligence alliance together with the… → Read More
Hong Kong third wave: public gatherings limited to two people, dining at restaurants banned as record 145 Covid-19 cases recorded
The new restrictions, which include compulsory mask-wearing outside, will take effect on Wednesday and last for at least one week. → Read More
Shark encounter gives Hong Kong swimmers fright of their lives off Sai Kung, Asia News
Hongkonger Shu Pu got the shock of her life in Sai Kung when a big fish she and her friends encountered while swimming turned out to be a shark - and there were possibly four of the marine predators. Pu, 40, was with three friends in Emerald Bay last Friday, when one of them in the group spotted a "big... → Read More
Hong Kong braces for flash flooding as forecaster issues red and amber rain alerts, Asia News
Hong Kong's Observatory issued a red rainstorm warning signal for the city at 10.35am on Monday. Classes at afternoon schools have been suspended, and the forecaster said further heavy rain could cause serious road flooding and traffic congestion. "Heavy rain will bring flash floods, and flooding is occurring or is expected to occur in watercourses," it said. "People should stay... → Read More