Amid protests, PHL consulate in HK on alert

The Philippine consulate in Hong Kong is on alert and ready to help overseas FIlipino workers (OFWs) and other Pinoys in the region, a Malacañang spokesperson said on Sunday.

“Nananatiling nakaalerto at nakamasid ang ating konsulada sa kalagayan ng mga Pilipino roon at patuloy na kaisa tayo sa mga naghahangad ng maayos at mapayapang resolusyon ng kasalukuyang kaganapan sa Hong Kong,” Communications Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. said in an interview aired over state-run DZRB.

‘Nakahanda ang pamahalaan na tumulong at umagapay sa ating mga kababayan kung kinakailangan,” Coloma added.

Protests have erupted in Hong Kong over the past days after China announced in August that it will only allow Beijing-approved candidates to participate in the city's elections in 2017.

The Department of Foreign Affairs earlier told Filipino tourists and OFWs to avoid sites where demonstrations are taking place, such as Central, Admiralty, Tim Mei Avenue, Lung Wei Road Causeway Bay, Mongkok, Wan Chai and the government headquarters in Tamar.

On Sunday, Coloma reiterated the request for Pinoys to steer clear of the protest actions.

“Patuloy po ang ating panawagan sa ating mga kababayan na umiwas sa mga lugar na pinagdarausan ng mga kilos protesta sa Hong Kong para sa kanilang proteksyon at kaligtasan,” he said.

Some 195,000 Filipinos are working in Hong Kong, based on government records in 2012. The Chinese special administrative region is also a popular destination for Filipino tourists. — Patricia Denise Chiu/BM, GMA News

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