Proposed OFW ban in HK hit

MANILA, Philippines - Akbayan party-list Rep. Walden Bello yesterday slammed a proposal in the Hong Kong legislature seeking to ban Filipino workers in the Chinese territory, describing the measure as “racist” and an attempt to get back at the Philippine government over the 2010 Manila hostage crisis.

Bello said Hong Kong politicians should keep their hands off overseas Filipino workers in their attempts to force President Aquino to apologize for the incident that left eight Hong Kong tourists dead.

“This proposal smacks of racism. Instead of resorting to legal and diplomatic means to address their grievances, some Hong Kong politicians choose to target hapless Filipinos for vendetta,” Bello said.

“Their perceived injustice with the Philippine government’s response to the incident should not be met with yet another form of injustice against the workers that have served them well, despite the difficulties and harsh working conditions many of them are often confronted with,” he added.

The Hong Kong Standard newspaper reported that the ban proposed by legislators Ray Chan Chi-Chuen and Albert Chan Wai-Yip involved three stages and could be implemented in two weeks.

First would be a halt on the issue of new visas for domestic helpers and then a stop to renewals of existing contracts. A third stage would be a block on all Filipinos going to Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong legislators said the ban should remain until Aquino apologizes, those involved in the botched rescue of the hostages are punished, and survivors and the families of victims are compensated.

But Bello said the proposed ban practically had no support from any other political party or the Hong Kong public.

“It should be emphasized that this call is emanating from a tiny minority and not from the Hong Kong public at large,” Bello said.

“This would be nothing short of political suicide for them and their political party. This is supported by the fact that public opinion is stacked against this proposed legislation. Should they push for such an unpopular move, it may cost them the reputation and even the future of their party,” he added.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying said his government is arranging a “high level” meeting with Philippine officials. He also said he has held discussions with the Central Government in Beijing on how to resolve the row with the Philippines over the bus tragedy, but would not reveal the government’s strategy for future negotiations.

Leung dismissed reports that he had agreed with Aquino to put the hostage crisis “behind them,” stressing the matter could only be resolved after Manila issues a formal apology and offers compensation.

Aquino has expressed “deep regret” and “sincere condolences” on the tragedy, and compensation coursed through a private group had been given to the victims’ families.