Around 1,400 Philippine passports used as collateral were seized in an illegal money lending firm in Hong Kong, the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong reported Thursday.

According to Consul General Antonio A. Morales, this is the third major case of pawned passports in the area in three years despite the repetitive warnings against the illegal act.

Using passports as collateral for loans is illegal and is considered a violation of the Philippine Passport Act.

Any passport held as guarantee or collateral for loans or debts is automatically cancelled upon notice by the holder that the document is lost.

The consulate has also sought the assistance of Hong Kong SAR Licensed Money Lenders Association Limited in addressing the issue and has called for the Filipinos living in Hong Kong not to patronize the illegal act.