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PDOS HK Orientation for OFWs
- 1. PRE-DEPARTURE ORIENTATION SEMINAR FOR OFWs BOUND FOR HONG KONG
- 2. PDOS HONG KONG Official Name : Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
- 3. FLAG
- 4. LOCATION Total Area : 1, 104 km2 Travel time : Manila to Hong Kong 1 hour and 45 minutes.
- 5. Mostly hilly but there are parts which are flat especially in Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon peninsula, which are reclaimed. TERRAIN
- 6. NATURAL HAZARDS Landslide Tropical Cyclone
- 7. Spring: March - May Autumn: September - November Summer: June - August Winter: December - February CLIMATE
- 8. 7.298 million (as of Mid-2015) POPULATION Ethnic Groups : Source : Census and Statistics Dept. Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Chinese 93.1% Indonesian 1.9% Filipino 1.9%, other 3% (2011 est.)
- 9. LANGUAGE Cantonese/English (official) Putunghua (Mandarin) Other Chinese dialects
- 10. Ancestor Worship, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism and Christianity. RELIGION
- 11. GOVERNMENT Dependency Status : special administration region of China Government Type : Limited Democracy National Holiday : 1 October ( 1949) - National Day ( Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China Note : 1 July 1997 is celebrated as Hong Kong Administrative Region Establishment Day. Chief of State : President of China Head of Government : Chief Executive
- 12. Currency : Hong Kong Dollar (HKD) Exchange Rate : 7.75 HKD = 1 USD HONG KONG CURRENCY
- 13. PUBLIC HOLIDAYS List of General Holidays 1. New Year’s Day 2. Lunar New Year’s Day (Chinese New Year) 3. The second day of Lunar New Year 4. The third day of Lunar New Year 5. Good Friday 6. The day following Good Friday 7. Easter Monday 8. Ching Ming Festival 9. The day following the Labor Day 10.The Birthday of Buddha 11.Tuen Ng Festival 12.Hong Kong Administrative Region Establishment Day 13.The day following the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival 14.National Day 15.The day following the Chung Yeung Festival 16.The first weekday after Christmas Day 17.The second day after Christmas Day
- 15. COMMUNICATION When Calling from Philippines to Hong Kong Dial 852 + (Area Code) + (Telephone Number) When Calling from Hong Kong to Philippines Dial 001 + 63 + (Area Code) + (Telephone Number) Internet Country Code .hk Time Difference Emergency Numbers (police, fire, ambulance services) None Dial 999
- 16. TRANSPORTATION MTR (Mass Transit Railway) Hong Kong Trams
- 17. Fast Craft Star Ferry Regular Ferry Taxi TRANSPORTATION
- 19. DRIVING TIPS All Vehicles in Hong Kong are RIGHT- HAND DRIVE, so before you cross the street, LOOK to your RIGHT First…
- 20. www.owwa.gov.ph WORKING DAYS Offices : Monday – Friday: 9AM-5/6PM (Many, if not most Hong Kongers, will work until 7PM. This is a normal working practice.) Saturday – 9AM -5/6PM Shops : 10AM – 7PM
- 21. HONG KONG IDENTIFICATION CARD • Get HK ID Card from HK Immigration Department within 30 days upon arrival in Hong Kong. • HK ID Card is free but when you lose it, you will have to pay HK$ 395. • Carry it at all times.
- 22. DOs IN HONG KONG • Respect Chinese tradition, practices and laws. • Be punctual. • Respect silence.
- 23. DON’Ts IN HONG KONG • When invited, do not start with your dinner until you are indicated to do so. • Do not hold your chopsticks upright, as it is considered unlucky. • Stay away from political and religious arguments.
- 24. www.owwa.gov.ph DON’Ts IN HONG KONG • Do not deal with loan sharks. • Do not use your passport as collateral for loan. • Taking double jobs (PART-TIME) is not allowed. • Do not forget to carry your passport or HK ID; keep it with you. • Do not express your anger or temper in public places.
- 25. www.owwa.gov.ph NOT ALLOWED IN HK • Drugs like opium, morphine, heroin, cocaine, cannabis, methadone, psychotropic drugs like stimulants, Amphetamine, Ecstasy, Benzodiazepine, Antibiotics like penicillin, tetracycline, corticosteroid, etc. • Chemicals like Acetic Anhydride, ephedrine, etc.
- 26. NOT ALLOWED IN HK • Weapons, Grenades, Firecrackers, Bullets and other explosive items. • Diamonds
- 27. STATISTICAL INFORMATION ON OVERSEAS FILIPINOS Estimated number of Filipinos Total a. Permanent residents 14,526 b. Temporary residents 174,687 c. Irregular/Undocumented Migrants 5,000 TOTAL 194,213 Source : Report to Congress by DFA , 2014.
- 29. 1. The United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-HK) 2. The Mission for Filipino Migrant Workers (MFMW) 3. International Social Service Hong Kong Branch 4. Hong Kong Musicians Union 5. Hong Kong Philippine Kali Association 6. The Filipino Catholic Association (FCA) 7. Jesus Is Lord Church (JIL Church) 8. Muslim Filipino Association (MUSFILA) 9. International Christian Assembly (ICA) Hong Kong 10. Philippine Association of Hong Kong FILIPINOS COMMUNITIES
- 30. WORKING/LIVING CONDITIONS OF OFWs IN HK 1. The working conditions of Filipino professionals and skilled workers in Hong Kong are governed by the Hong Kong Employment Ordinance. 2. Effective 1 May 2015, the Statutory Minimum Wage is HK$32.5 per hour. Foreign workers under the Supplementary Labor Scheme (SLS) are required to be paid at least median monthly wages of local workers and are expected to return to their country of origin upon expiry of their contracts. 3. For Household Service Workers, employers must pay a salary that is not less than the prevailing Minimum Allowable Wage (MAW) amounting to HK$ 4,210 per month. The new MAW applies to employment contracts signed on or after 1 October 2015.
- 31. EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT : TERMS AND CONDITIONS 1. Weekly rest day of 24 hours except on official holidays. During official holidays, HSWs are entitled to a rest day with pay. 2. Entitled to paid leave of 7 days after working for a year. 3. Entitled to 2 sick leave days per month on the first year, and 4 days per month thereafter. Accumulated paid leave days cannot go beyond 120 days. 4. The sick leave allowance is equivalent to two-thirds of the salary. 5. In case an employee gets sick or sustains injury, the employer must provide her/him with free medical attention.
- 32. 6. An employer must grant a holiday to an employee for each of the additional statutory holidays in accordance with Section 39 of the Employment Ordinance. 7. Entitled to a vacation in his/her country of origin as specified in her contract. EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT : TERMS AND CONDITIONS
- 33. PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED BY OFWs 1. Labor-related problems – contract violations (e.g. unfair labor practices, poor working conditions), illegal recruitment and excessive fees, non-payment of benefits, maltreatment, etc. 2. Illegal recruitment and charging of excessive fees by recruiters from Hong Kong for deployment to third- destination countries. 3. Misuse of Philippine passports and dispute relating to personal loans. 4. Family, marital, property and other civil-related problems. 5. Filipino nationals charged with criminal offenses.
- 34. Important Advice from the Hong Kong Administrative Region Government o Call the police emergency hotline 999, if you receive any physical abuse or your personal safety is at risk. o Call the Labor Department 24-hour hotline, if your wages are not paid (either not in full or not on time) or any of your employment rights is violated. o Always keep your passport and Hong Kong Identity Card . No other person, including your employer or agent, should keep those documents for you. o Do NOT sign any documents if you don not fully understand or agree.
- 35. PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL Philippine Overseas Labor Office Unit 1101 11th Floor Tower 1 Admiralty Centre 18 Hardcourt Road, Hong Kong
- 36. hkpolo20014@yahoo.com owwahongkong@yahoo.com PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL (852) 2 866 4882 (852) 3483-30600
Editor's Notes
- Tropical cyclones frequent Hong Kong during the summer months between June and August typically. Landslides are common after a rainstorm.
- Spring March to May Temperature and humidity are rising. Evenings can be cool. Summer June to August Hot, humid and sunny, with occasional showers and thunderstorms. The temperture can exceed 31°C. Autumn September to November There are pleasant breezes, plenty of sunshine and comfortable temperatures. Many people regard these as the best months of the year to visit Hong Kong. Winter December to February Cool, dry and cloudy, with occasional cold fronts. The temperature can drop below 10°C in urban areas. November and December: pleasant breezes, plenty of sunshine. January and February: cloudy, with occasional cold fronts followed by dry northerly winds. March and April: very pleasant although there are occasional spells of high humidity. May to August: hot and humid with occasional showers and thunderstorms, particularly during the mornings. July to September: month of tropical cyclones, although gales are not unusual at any time between May and November. Average Temperature: 23 C (73.4 F) During Winter (January - February) : 8 – 15 C (46.4 F)
- Ethnic Groups : Chinese descent Indonesian Filipino Indian Other nationals Languages : Cantonese and English (official) Putunghua (Mandarin) Other Chinese dialects
- Ten Thousand Buddha Monastery - Ten Thousand Buddha Monastery was founded by Reverend Yuet Kai in 1949, with construction completion in 1957. This Buddhist temple located on the mountain behind Pai Tau Village in Shatin. The monastery is divided into upper and lower portions, occupying over eight hectares. It consists of five temples, four pavilions, one pagoda and one veranda. The main building of the monastery is the Ten Thousand Buddha temple, where over 12,800 pieces of exquisite Buddha statues each with a different posture were placed on the wall. Moreover, the immortal body of Reverend Yuet Kai is situated in the central portion of the hall to allow people to worship. At the opposite side of the main temple is the 9-storey Pagoda, which was selected as the symbol of Hong Kong printed on the HK$100 note. Between the temple and pagoda is the Vitasoda - Kwun Yam Pavilion, and the 18 Arhans are situated at both sides of veranda. Besides, the Manjusri and Samantabhadra Pavilions can been seen near the veranda. All above facilities were built at the lower portion. At the upper portion there are the Temple of The God of Heaven, the Candi Buddha Temple, the Kwun Yam Temple and the Temple of the Nei Tor (Amita) Buddha. Each temple all placed different statues of Buddha for people to worship. Wong Tai Sin Temple built in 1921 is the most popular Taoist temple in Hong Kong. The temple located in Rosy Garden, on the southern side of Lion Rock in the north of Kowloon is renowned among Chinese around the world. The temple is named after Wong Chuping after he entered Taoism, and later achieved enlightenment and became an immortal, people referred to him as Wong Tai Sin. His influence spread in the early 20th century from Guangdong Province to Hong Kong. The temple currently in existence was the result of a rebuild in 1973. The architecture of a traditional chinese style with its large ornate red pillar, golden roof and carvings of dragons and phoenix sits in an 18,000 m² compound. The temple's main feature is the Wong Tai Sin portrait that stands above the main altar. The Hall of the Three Saints dedicated to Guan Yin (Goddess of Mercy), Guan Di (God of War) and Lu Dongbin, is also a common place of worshipping for the believers. There is also the Unicorn Hall dedicated to Confucius and his disciples, the Archive Hall hosting the philosophical teachings of Wong Tai Sin and the Memorial Hall which now houses the spirit tablets of deceased Sik Sik Yuen members. The Bronze Pavilion is mostly used as a the temple's resting place. Good Wish Garden, a Chinese styled garden depicts the one found at Beijing's Summer Palace, while the Nine Dragon Wall is a replica of the infamous site found at the Forbidden City. Hong Kong provides an unlimited variety of food in every class. Complex combinations and international gourmet expertise have given Hong Kong the reputable labels of "Gourmet Paradise" and "World's Fair of Food". Dim Sum is the most famous in the long list of dishes in a Hongkong meal. Impressively shaped, bite-size portions of dumplings with lightly seasoned fillings of meat and seafish, fluffy buns with various fillings and glutinous rice - all deliciously steamed - just ignite the tastebuds. Dim Sum Most famous dish in HK. Of different shapes and meat or seafish fillings. HK is known as the “Gourmet Paradise” for its food of highest quality and flavor, prepared well and presented in an artful manner.
- British territory until 1997. Led by a Chief Executive and an Executive Council, with a two-tiered system of representative government and an independent judiciary. Hong Kong is an autonomous Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, except in defence and foreign affairs. The Basic Law guarantees that autonomy for 50 years, and designates a system of governance led by a Chief Executive and an Executive Council, with a two-tiered system of representative government and an independent judiciary. Autonomous Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, except in defense and foreign affairs.
- Hong Kong provides an unlimited variety of food in every class. Complex combinations and international gourmet expertise have given Hong Kong the reputable labels of "Gourmet Paradise" and "World's Fair of Food". Dim Sum is the most famous in the long list of dishes in a Hongkong meal. Impressively shaped, bite-size portions of dumplings with lightly seasoned fillings of meat and seafish, fluffy buns with various fillings and glutinous rice - all deliciously steamed - just ignite the tastebuds. Dim Sum Most famous dish in HK. Of different shapes and meat or seafish fillings. HK is known as the “Gourmet Paradise” for its food of highest quality and flavor, prepared well and presented in an artful manner.
- Central Station – where Filipinos hold rallies, events, and programs MTR (Mass Transit Railway) Servicing Hours: Different for each lines, mainly 06:00 to next morning 01:00 daily In service since 1979, carrying about 2.3 million passengers daily (HK Population: 6.8 million), the MTR is the most popular public transport in Hong Kong. The MTR has an accuracy of 99.9%. Also, the urban lines have trains running every 2 to 3 minutes, while the Tung Chung lines have trains running every 4 to 5 minutes during peak hours. The MTR has around 85 stations located at all major entertainment, shopping, eating, commercial and residential areas of Hong Kong. Therefore catching the MTR is the first choice for public transportation in Hong Kong! Hong Kong Tramways Servicing Areas: Northern parts of Hong Kong Island Operating Hours: Around 06:00 to Midnight 00:00 In operation since 1904, the Trams service northern Hong Kong Island areas. Except Sai Wan, Happy Valley and Chai Wan, Trams and MTR routes are pretty much the same. The trams start from Kennedy Town in the west, to Shau Kei Wan in the east, passing through shopping and commercial districts like Central, Admiralty, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay, North Point and Tai Koo Shing. The slow pace of Trams is a big contrast to Hong Kong's fast paced lifestyle. The fees is cheap, only HK$2 for adults, therefore riding the trams is one of the best ways to experience the urban life of Hong Kong people.
- Star Ferry service between Kowloon and Hong Kong Island from piers in Tsim Sha Tsui and Hung Hom in Kowloon and Central and Wan Chai on the Island. Regular Ferry routes connecting Hong Kong Island and Kowloon Fast Craft Offers 24 hour service from Hong Kong to Macau… Servicing Areas: Hong Kong Island's Central to Victoria Peak Operating Hours: Around 07:00 to Midnight 00:00 The Peak Tram is the best mode of transport to reach the peak. Please refer to our introduction to The Peak. Website: The Peak Ferries and Turbojet Servicing Areas: Four types Between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon Between Hong Kong Island and outlying islands Between Hong Kong Island and Macau Between Kowloon and Macau Operating Hours: Different for each route, mainly daytime The Star Ferry is the main ferry operator between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. The frequency is every few minutes to just over 10 minutes. The Star Ferry has piers at Central, Wan Chai, Tsim Sha Tsui and Hung Hom. It only costs HK$2.2 for Central - Tsim Sha Tsui or Wan Chai - Tsim Sha Tsui, it's the best and cheapest way to enjoy Victoria Harbour. Hong Kong Island's Central Pier has many routes to go to the outlying islands, such as Lantau Island, Cheung Chau or Lamma Island. Please refer to Hong Kong Station for more information. Taxis There are three types of Taxis in Hong Kong, the Red Taxis that mostly travel the urban areas, the Green Taxis that operate within the New Territories and the Blue Taxis that operate on Lantau Island. As illustrated below, the Blue Taxis are the cheapest and Green Taxis are dearer than the Blue ones but cheaper than the Red ones. Except the middle and lower parts of Lantau Island, the Red Taxis operate in all parts of Hong Kong including the Airport. Fares are as follows, First 2 KilometersHK$15.00 Every 0.2KM after the first 2KMHK$1.40 Waiting time per minuteHK$1.40 Except the Airport on Lantau Island and some areas in Kowloon, the Green Taxis in New Territories can only operates in the New Territories. Fares are as follows, First 2 KilometersHK$12.50 Every 0.2KM after the first 2KMHK$1.20 Waiting time per minuteHK$1.20 The Blue Taxis can only operate within the Lantau Island, including the Airport. Fares are as follows, First 2 KilometersHK$12.00 Every 0.2KM after the first 2KMHK$1.20 Waiting time per minuteHK$1.20 Extra fees are charged if passengers have luggage or when required to travel on toll ways. Passengers can request a receipt if required.
- Buses Service Areas: All of Hong Kong except outlying islands Operating Hours: Major routes provide 24 hour services as well Major Bus Companies: Buses All bus routes cover most areas of Hong Kong. Major routes provide 24-hour services as well KMB: Kowloon, New Territories, Cross Harbour* CityBus: HK Island, Cross Harbour*, and between Airport and Urban Areas New World First Bus: HK Island, Cross Harbour*, and Tseung Kwan O New Lantao Bus: Lantau Island * Cross Harbour means crossing the Victoria Harbour; i.e. From HK Island to Kowloon or New Territories, or vice versa) All bus routes cover most areas of Hong Kong. Buses are also the major public transportation for travelling to Hong Kong Island's Southern District, like Ocean Park, Repulse Bay and Stanley. Airbus is cheaper than Airport Express trains. A11 to Hong Kong Island's Central, Wanchai, Causeway Bay or North Point only cost HK$40; A21 to Kowloon's Mong Kok, Tsim Sha Tsui and Hung Hom station only cost HK$33. The frequency of buses are very high, and all Hong Kong Island and Cross Harbour buses are air conditioned; for Kowloon and New Territories over 75% of buses are air conditioned as well. If you are familiar with Hong Kong's geographical areas, catching a bus is a very convenient way of travelling through Hong Kong! (Well, except in traffic jams!) Public Light Buses (Minibuses) The minibuses are famous for their speed and frequency, but cost more than regular buses, therefore you can save lots of time when travelling on minibuses! Public Light Buses (Minibuses) The minibuses are famous for their speed and frequency, but cost more than regular buses, therefore you can save lots of time when travelling on minibuses!
- Offices tend to work more regulated hours, usually between 9a.m.-5/6p.m., although in reality many, if not most, Hong Kongers, will work on until 7p.m. This is normal working practice. Hong Kongers also work a half day Saturday, from 9.am. until 1p.m., although the government is trying to phase this out.
- Respect Chinese traditions, customs, practices and strictly observe their laws and regulations. Greet when you meet someone. Be punctual. Plan for plenty of time to get to your destination, as the streets of Hong Kong can be extremely congested, and if you are late, apologize profusely. In the unlikely event that your associates are late, be gracious. Wear conservative clothes in order to maintain decorum and sobriety. You should be polite in your manners. Respect silence. Your associate may sit in contemplation for some time. Do not interrupt.
- Your passport is your personal property. It is illegal for your employer to keep it. SOME EMPLOYER WILL DEMAND TO SURRENDER YOUR PASSPORT TO THEM, THEY DO THIS SO YOU WILL NOT BE TEMPTED TO BARROW MONEY FROM LOAN SHARKS, WHICH THEY WILL GET INTO TROUBLE IF YOU MISS YOUR PAYMENTS.