Hong Kong's 'insulting letter' damaging to political relations - Miriam

MANILA, Philippines - A top Hong Kong official’s reported “insulting letter” to President Aquino could have further damaged the political relations between the Philippines and Hong Kong, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago said yesterday.

Speaking over radio dzBB, Santiago said Hong Kong chief executive Donald Tsang’s call to Mr. Aquino at the height of the hostage crisis was out of order.

“In the first place, David Tsang does not represent China... he is just (head) of the administrative region... there is already an act of discourtesy on his part,” she said.

“Let me educate the HK legislature. They don’t have legal personality... no legal effect even in their own legal jurisdiction. Why exacerbate... by waving the flag when it is not necessary?”

Philippine-China relations remain strong, but these have been severely affected by the hostage crisis, she added.

Santiago said insulting the head of state is like insulting the entire nation.

“If you insult the President of the Philippines, you are not following the Vienna Convention,” she said.

Santiago said under the International Law Commission of the United Nations on diplomatic protection, peaceful settlement should be taken between two conflicting countries. 

“If you are insulting one country, then that is not diplomatic,” she said.

The Senate can pass a resolution, condemning Hong Kong’s move if Mr. Aquino allows Congress to intervene in the issue.

In a special media interview Thursday, Mr. Aquino said he decided against answering the “insulting” letter from a Hong Kong official whom he did not identify.

However, he protested to the Chinese government, he added.