Hong Kong assures RP of friendship, safety of Filipinos

Amid raging emotions over the hostage tragedy in Manila on Monday, Hong Kong assured the Philippines of its friendship and the safety of Filipinos residing in the Chinese territory.

Philippine consul general in Hong Kong Claro Cristobal said Thursday Hong Kong officials and Filipinos there are taking concrete steps to heal wounds caused by the hostage crisis.

On August 23, dismissed Police Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza, hijacked a bus carrying 21 Hong Kong tourists and four Filipinos. After an 11-hour hostage drama, nine people died— the hostage-taker and eight Hong Kong tourists.

“Yung Hong Kong government ay napakainam na pakikitungo sa atin, pati leaders ng kanilang pamahalaan nagsabi na ang kahinahunan ang pinakamahalagang bagay na umiral sa ganitong uri ng panahon na ang pakikitungo sa kapwa dapat mabuti. Ang Hong Kong napakagandang reputation may racial harmony," Cristobal said in an interview on dzXL radio.

(The Hong Kong government has been very cordial in dealing with us. Its government leaders have repeatedly stressed sobriety is the best approach at this time)," Cristobal also said Hong Kong officials even reassured him of the safety of Filipinos there, as well as protection from verbal abuse.

“Ang leaders ng Hong Kong mismo nagsasabi huwag ibubunton sa maling tao ang pagkagalit, ang kanilang damdamin at kalungkutan sapagka’t wala silang kasalanan (Hong Kong leaders themselves have called on the public not to put the blame on Filipino workers there. The Filipinos in Hong Kong are not to blame)," he said.

Prayer vigils

Filipinos in Hong Kong have held prayer vigils and signed condolence books for the victims of the incident, he said.

“Itong community organized events na ito nagpapatunay ang Pilipino ang damdamin natin ng kapayapaan di maikakaila at di masasaktan ng anumang isang singular event na malungkot. Ang leaders dito nakikipagugnayan sa atin paano sila makapag-express ng pagdadalamhati, sila tumutungo sa condolence book signing," he said.

(Community-organized events show Filipinos are peace-loving and sad over what happened. Community leaders are even consulting with our office on how to express their sorrow.)

Cristobal also asked families of Hong Kong-based Filipino workers to verify so-called reports of persecution first.

So far, he said his office has yet to verify reports of Filipinos being abused because of Monday’s incident.

“Aking tinitiyak ang ating pakikipagugnayan sa pamahalaan ng Hong Kong ay mabuti (I assure you are ties with the Hong Kong government are good). We are helping each other, this sad moment will pass," he said.

Warning vs text messages on ‘persecution’

Cristobal cautioned Filipino community leaders against falling for unverified text messages claiming Filipinos in Hong Kong are being persecuted.

But he said his office will verify such text messages, including one claiming that Hong Kong had stopped processing immigration applications of Filipinos.

Cristobal said other text messages claimed Hong Kong employers have forbidden Filipino workers from going out.

“Wala pong katotohanan yan, walang threat na nakarating sa ating kabatiran kagabi na meron daw text messages na kumakalat, yan ang aking sinabihan ang ilang mga leader ng ating community dito na mag-ingat sa uri ng babala na kanilang pinalalabas," he said.

(Those claims haveno basis. We have yet to receive information about threats to Filipinos in Hong Kong. I have asked Filipino community leaders to be wary of such claims being spread via text.)

source;gma