Hong Kong, 4 February 2025 – The Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong conducted the second edition of its PCG Talks Series, with this year’s topic focusing on Small Claims in the Philippines and Hong Kong. The seminar was conducted last 26 January 2025 at the Consulate’s Conference Room.
The PCG Talks Series is an annual legal conference wherein paramount issues besetting Filipinos in Hong Kong are discussed. The Consulate decided to devote the second PCG Talks on Small Claims to recognize the rising incidents where Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) enter into personal credit obligations amongst themselves, with the OFW-lender usually left unpaid, by the OFW-borrower, who is usually the former’s friend or family.
The seminar effectively served as a communal legal aid wherein the Consulate provided the Filipino Community in attendance with two esteemed members of the Philippine and Hong Kong legal societies. Justice Maria Victoria Sardillo, Assistant Solicitor General at the Office of the Solicitor General of the Philippines, discussed the Small Claims process in the Philippines, while Mr. Davyd Wong, Founder and Director of Pro Bono Hong Kong, discussed the Small Claims process in Hong Kong.
There were 45 in-person attendees who learned about the similarities and differences in the procedure of filing Small Claims in the Philippines and in Hong Kong, namely:
- Small Claims in the Philippines covers obligations not exceeding PHP1,000,000.00, while in Hong Kong it covers obligations not exceeding HK$75,000.00;
- Small Claims in the Philippines is filed before the Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts in Cities, Municipal Trial Court, and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts, while in Hong Kong, Small Claims are filed before the Small Claims Tribunal; and
- Parties in both actions for Small Claims in the Philippines and in Hong Kong are not allowed to use lawyers within said proceedings.
While the Consulate acknowledges that lending and borrowing money is unavoidable, especially in moments of crisis, the Filipino Community in Hong Kong is still encouraged to be responsible in undertaking such personal loans
A video-recording of the event was uploaded to the Consulate’s Facebook Page (which may be accessed through this link) for reference of other interested members of the Filipino Community in Hong Kong who were not able to attend the seminar.
END.
