Over 200 FDHs join anti-crime program

Filipino domestic helpers during their rest day in Hong Kong.

OVER 200 Filipino domestic workers have registered to join Hong Kong Police Force’s crime prevention program, an official of the Philippine Consulate said.

Attache Luz Iglesias told Hong Kong News that 93 Filipino domestic workers registered during the first batch of listing, and 117 in the second batch.

“The Hong Kong Police’s initial target was 500 registrants, so with 210 registrants, we’re way below the target,” Iglesias said.

In its announcement posted on its Facebook page, the PCG said the program’s seminars, initiated by the HKPF Central District, will be held on Sundays, once or twice a month.

The compulsory one-hour seminar will discuss four topics: local laws; traffic regulations; law and order situation, crime trend and crime prevention advice; and police procedures and services.

Activities will also include first aid courses, a one-day local tour, and joint sports activities or community services with police volunteers or police sports clubs.

Iglesias said the registration of those willing to participate in the program is continuing.

“We’re still awaiting their schedule and the formal launching of the program,” Iglesias said.

The program’s mission is to “prevent Filipino domestic helpers from falling prey to crimes or breaking laws to unfamiliarity with local laws and traffic regulations.”

It also seeks to enlist the support of Filipino domestic helpers to disseminate crime prevention messages to other domestic helpers, their employers and also to the Filipinos community in general.

In the last week of March, at least three Filipinos arrested by Hong Kong police involved in alleged illegal lending activities preying on domestic workers have sought a meeting with the Philippine Consulate General.

At least 10 persons arrested, eight Filipinos and a Chinese couple, in connection with illegal lending activities have been released on police bail and they were told to report to the police station by mid-April. Along with the arrests, police seized, among others, 242 Philippine passports.

On Mar. 14, police said persons behind the loan shark syndicate were estimated to have profited at least $2 million from the illegal activity.

Chan Hon-ming, superintendent of Organized Crime and Triad Bureau of Hong Kong Police Force, said the syndicate gave loans to more than 1,200 borrowers between March and October 2016.

All the borrowers were Filipino domestic workers.

Arrests were made on Mar. 12 after passports were passed on by a Filipino female to the couple. Raids were also conducted at various premises.