We don’t hate – Jackie Chan

Amid the expressions of anger from some Hong Kong nationals, one of the most popular citizens of the former Crown Colony has extended a hand of friendship to Filipinos following the hostage crisis that resulted in the death of eight foreign tourists.

Action movie superstar Jackie Chan, through his verified Twitter account (@EyeOfJackieChan), extended a hand of friendship to Filipinos over the bloody hostage crisis.

“This kind of things always happen around the world. It happen to HK's people, the whole HK is talking about it. It’s really sad.”

“If they killed the guy sooner, they will say why not negotiate first? If they negotiate first, they ask why not kill the guy sooner? So sad,” Chan said.

“HK is a nation built by a lot of different people… don't worry! We do not hate!”

“Humans should be united and not kill or hate each other,” Chan, who had once visited the Philippines, added.

“Thank you to Mr. Jackie Chan for extending this hand of friendship. We hope that our friends in Hong Kong will extend their hand of friendship again to us. It is an isolated incident. It is an unfortunate incident. We grieved with the tragedy that has happened. We are not taking this lightly. I hope the Hong Kong people will also understand our situation,” Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said.

10-12% drop in tourist arrivals
Meanwhile, last Monday's bloody hostage drama that was witnessed by millions of people glued to their televisions worldwide had further magnified the so-called “boogeyman” that prevents many tourists from visiting the country, a top official of a local agency group said on Wednesday.

But the worst part that the world saw, according to National Association of Independent Travel Agencies (NAITAS) chairman emeritus chief Robert

Lim Joseph, was the failure of the government to protect and secure the foreigners during their visit here.

“The effects (of the hostage incident) sends not only a chilling effect to tourists that they are not safe in the country but also the fact that they could not rely on the government,” Joseph, who was in Los Angeles, California, told the Manila Bulletin in a telephone interview.

As a result of the 12-hour bloody hostage drama, Joseph expects a drop of tourist arrivals by as much as 12 percent by the end of the year.

Joseph's estimate was not far from the 10 percent figure released by the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA).

“And we are still being optimistic with that figure. The drop of tourists may not be felt in the following days but it will be felt in the long run,” the NAITAS chairman emeritus said.

When asked how much the travel agencies expect to lose after the incident, he said “it is still to early to tell.”

Joseph assailed Department of Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim for not moving quickly in extending help to the victims and assuring everyone that the hostage drama was an isolated one.

“And where were they (the officials) when the victims needed them? They waited until the whole situation went out of control,” he lamented.

Hostage incidents, such as what had happened Monday, are not the only threat that foreign tourists may encounter, according to Joseph.

“Hostage taking is just one part and maybe an isolated one. But what about other petty crimes like street robbery? How will they protect their visitors?” he asked.

“This is what we have to think of. The hostage-taking incident last Monday should serve as an eye-opener for our local government that there are threats to foreigners. As long as the government does not resolve the peace and order situation, foreigners will continue to evade the country,” Joseph added.

JC BELLO RUIZ and LEONARD D. POSTRADO, Manila Bulletin