Hong Kong’s Filipino community, which includes legions of vulnerable household helpers, yesterday voiced fears of retribution following the bloody end to a hostage drama in Manila.
The main Filipino labor union said there had been at least one sacking of a maid by a Hong Kong employer angry over the siege in which an ex-policeman seized a busload of Hong Kong tourists on Monday.
The hijacking triggered a 12-hour standoff that ended in a bloodbath following a chaotic assault on the bus by Philippine police, leaving eight Hong Kong tourists dead.
“This [sacking] is directly related to this incident,” Filipino Migrant Workers’ Union vice chairman Eman Villanueva told a news conference, without giving further details.
There are as many as 200,000 Filipinos living in the territory, the vast majority of them female maids working for low wages, and some have complained of being threatened or harassed, labor groups said.
“[Helpers] can be sacked without explanation under Hong Kong labor law,” Elizabeth Tang, chief executive of the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions, told reporters. “That’s why we’re worried about people venting their anger and frustration against domestic helpers.”
Several protests have been held at the Philippine consulate in Hong Kong since Monday, with some angry activists shouting at diplomatic staff.
About 70,000 people have signed on to a Facebook page set up by the Hong Kong government for citizens to mourn the hostage victims.
Many of the messages are respectful. But the Internet is also awash with abuse of Filipinos.
“I have already told my Filipino maid to find another job. I have decided to hire a local Hong Kong granny or a new immigrant from mainland China to be my domestic helper,” Angel Hong wrote on the Facebook memorial page.
Raine Can wrote: “I will never again go to the Philippines. I will also ask my children and grandchildren not to go to this country!!!”
Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang (曾蔭權) has called for unity, saying the city’s Filipino residents “share our sorrow and frustration.”
The South China Morning Post said retribution against Filipinos was misplaced and “smacks of racism.”
“They are as much innocent bystanders to the tragedy as we are and deserve to be treated as such,” the daily said in an editorial yesterday.
Labor leaders also heaped criticism on the handling of the crisis by the Philippine authorities and took aim at some comments made by Philippine President Benigno Aquino.
“Filipino migrant workers here share the Hong Kong people’s shock and dismay at how poorly the crisis situation was handled,” said Dolores Balladares, chairwoman of the United Filipinos community group in Hong Kong.
“Some of President Aquino’s statements immediately after the incident lacked sensitivity and sensibility. Instead of pointing to poor crisis management, he compared it to other tragic hostage-taking in Russian and Germany,” she said. “These insensitive comments do not help in healing the wounds and to assure the Hong Kong people.”
Aquino’s own Facebook page has been swamped with angry comments, from barbs against bungling policemen to calls for him to quit.
“Shame on you and your government. Tender your resignation now,” wrote Elfis Lee, a Hong Kong resident. “Your incompetence of leading your untrained stupid police force caused such a tragedy.”
The president appealed yesterday for a halt to the government bashing, and his government is preparing to send a delegation to explain the hostage crisis in full to Hong Kong authorities.
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