HK travelers urged to monitor latest news

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine consulate general in Hong Kong yesterday advised individuals who have travel plans to the territory to monitor latest reports after the legislature approved a non-binding resolution asking the government to suspend visa-free entry for Philippine passport holders.

Travelers are also advised to check the websites of the Hong Kong Immigration Department and the Philippine consulate general.

Hong Kong lawmakers voted to pass a non-binding motion by People Power’s Albert Chan Wai-yip calling on the government to impose sanctions on the Philippines in connection with the 2010 Manila hostage killings, the South China Morning Post reported on Friday.

The legislature also voted in favor of former security chief Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee’s amendment calling for the visa-free access for Filipino citizens to be scrapped.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday said that the Philippines is working for a mutually satisfactory result on Hong Kong demands to resolve the issue of the hostage incident in Manila.

Meanwhile, Valenzuela Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian urged yesterday the government to consider the filing of cases against those responsible for the bungled rescue operations in the 2010 Manila bus hostage incident that resulted in the death of eight Hong Kong nationals.

The lawmaker also appealed to the Legislative Council of Hong Kong “not to be too unforgiving and harsh on Filipinos working or visiting the Chinese autonomous region, and instead look into the long and faithful relationship of the Philippines and Hong Kong which dates back for centuries.” – With Paolo Romero