Asked on Hong Kong protests, Duterte says he respects rule of law

BEIJING, China — The political turmoil in Hong Kong was mentioned during the bilateral meeting between President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping here last Thursday, with the Philippine leader saying he respects the rule of law. 

Economic activity in Hong Kong has been affected by a wave of protests by activists who are opposed to a bill that would have allowed people accused of crimes against mainland China to be extradited.

While the bill has been suspended, activists continue to conduct mass demonstrations to denounce the violent dispersal of protests and to demand the resignation of Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam, whom they accuse of being a puppet of China. 

"We respect the rule of law. That's what the president said and the president of China appreciates that statement," presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo told reporters Friday here. 

Despite the tensions, the Duterte administration has not banned the sending of workers in Hong Kong, a special administrative region. Malacañang, however, has advised Filipinos to avoid traveling to Hong Kong, noting that protests have resulted in the cancellation of flights.