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4 Important Things to Know in Managing Bank Accounts as an OFW

4 Important Things to Know in Managing your Bank Accounts

Working overseas is not something that is for everyone. It takes a lot of courage, patience, and determination to survive and thrive in a foreign place with little to no reassurance of success, even. However, this fact of life is something that Filipinos have come to embrace for the sake of their children and loved [...]

DOLE: No OFW Deployment Ban in HK at the Moment

DOLE: No OFW Deployment Ban as of the Moment

Amid the tension-gripped events which shook the Special Administrative Region in recent months including an arrest of a Filipino national, who had been accused of involvement in the protests held in public, talks have circulated that a deployment might soon be put in place. However, Labour Secretary Silvestre Bello III clarified that the deployment of [...]

DFA Extends Assistance to Filipino Arrested in Hong Kong

DFA Extends Assistance to Filipino Arrested in Hong Kong

Amid the tumultuous political situation in Hong Kong, it can’t be helped that other nationalities could get involved in the conflict in their host country. In line with this, officials from the Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs are now monitoring the situation and are coordinating with lawyers in Hong Kong to assist the Filipino arrested [...]

How to Apply for PhilHealth Voluntary Membership for OFWs in Hong Kong

How to Apply for PhilHealth Voluntary Membership for OFWs in Hong Kong

Despite the challenges of living alone and working to provide for the family, OFWs must also understand that without setting up contingency plans for themselves such as insurance packages, everything will be meaningless. We know that life can be unpredictable – one day you can be a healthy working individual, and a sick unemployed person [...]

Armed Masked Men Assault Anti-Gov’t Protesters in Hong Kong

Armed Masked Men Assault Anti-Gov’t Protesters in Hong Kong

What had apparently ended with the scrapping of a bill handing over extradition rights to crimes of foreign nationals in the country proved to be just the icing on the cake as demonstrations continue to fill the streets of Hong Kong led by hundreds and thousands of anti-government protesters expressing their rage and discontent over [...]

Gov’t Releases Details on Smart Lamp Post Initiative

Gov’t Releases Details on Smart Lamppost Initiative

As the government unveils its latest smart initiative to promote Kong Kong as one of the world’s smart cities, details on the smart lamp posts have piqued the curiosity of both residents as well as visitors following rumours that the new project poses some threat to data privacy. However, after the government has clarified the [...]

Gov’t Clears ID Card Rumours, Emphasizes Data Security

With the on-going smart ID card replacement initiative progressing as scheduled, residents begin to question the benefits and abilities of the new “smart ID” as its features are heavily based on digital processes, to which not everyone can easily grasp. It is for this reason that rumours are beginning to sprout from the side-lines. This being the case, the government has once again issued a statement regarding the features of the new smart ID card, and assured the people of its security protocols and protection system in place. Gov’t Assures Residents of HK Smart ID Card Security In regard to this, the Immigration Department clarified that the new smart identity card has adopted multi-level safeguards to ensure the personal data stored in the card’s chip is protected, as shared in a report by news.gov.hk. The department issued the clarification to address recent rumours claiming that the card’s new contactless technology leaves it more vulnerable to personal data theft. Immigration authorities explained that the new card’s identity verification process is absolutely secure and accurate. They clarified that only authorised optical card readers can interpret the chip and it that it would be impossible for readers to access its personal data without a specific algorithm or program. Furthermore, access to chip data can only be initiated by the designated cardholder who must physically place the card onto an authorised card reader. Accordingly, the verification process would then be conducted using the combination of an optical card reader and wireless transmission technology. Throughout this process, all communication and data transmission would be encrypted, making it extra secure from hackers and privacy attacks. Without the cardholder physically taking out the new smart identity card, it would be impossible for others to remotely access the chip data without notice by the cardholder. In setting up this new system, the department engaged independent consultants to conduct assessments on privacy and security impacts to ensure the card complies with the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance. The assessments conducted have confirmed that safeguards adopted have effectively prevented unauthorised access to personal data. In an update, the department received information that several groups in the community had distributed free card protectors, claiming it would block radio frequency identification to prevent personal data theft. To this, the department further explained that there is no case of unauthorised access to the new smart identity card and the circulating message is misleading and is causing unwarranted panic and doubts among members of the community. ALSO READ: HK Smart Identity Card Replacement Continues with Those Born in 1964 & 1965

With the on-going smart ID card replacement initiative progressing as scheduled, residents begin to question the benefits and abilities of the new “smart ID” as its features are heavily based on digital processes, to which not everyone can easily grasp. It is for this reason that rumours are beginning to sprout from the side-lines. This [...]

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