The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday said it will not stop Filipino residents or temporary visitors who participate in the ongoing demonstration in Hong Kong, saying their rights to express grievance and assembly are protected by the Constitution.
Ask what the government intends to do to stop Filipinos who join the demonstrations, Foreign Affairs Spokesman Charles Jose said, “We can’t stop them, the freedom to express and assemble is guaranteed by the Constitution, as long as there are no damage to property or loss of lives.”
Jose added that those who join the demonstration are individual initiatives and not government policy. “These are individual initiatives, not government policy. We are not commenting on what’s happening in Hong Kong. We do not [meddle in the] internal affairs of Hong Kong,” Jose added.
The DFA made the statement after it was reported that some Filipino permanent residents of Hong Kong have joined the protest movement, armed with cameras and sporting yellow ribbons.
The Filipinos were also reported to have brought their children with them.
News report from the former crown colony quoted a Filipino, named only as Mang Ben, as saying: “We brought along our kids because this is a teaching opportunity for them to learn that, ‘You know, your freedom, you have to fight for it.”
Mang Ben has lived in Hong Kong for 25 years, but declined to give his name for security purposes. “We brought them so that they will also be aware of what’s going on. It’s not just for fun. It’s also a teaching moment for them,” Mang Ben was quoted as saying.
Earlier, the DFA issued a warning for Filipinos not to join the protest movement because of Hong Kong’s strict adherence to rules that include a HK$5,000-fine for infractions and imprisonment of up to 12 months.
“Hong Kong has given us so much economic benefits, for Filipinos particularly. We want to give back,” Mang Ben added.
For the last four days, Hong Kong has been swept by student-led protests demanding that China honor its pledge to allow the city to elect its own chief executive through “universal suffrage.” There are around 185,000 Filipinos in Hong Kong, with 15,000 having permanent- resident status.
Around 165,000 work in the city as domestic helps, although the latest figures from the Commission on Filipinos Overseas said there are more than 195,000 Filipinos in Hong Kong.
The figure includes more than 176,000 temporary workers, who are expected to return home when their contracts end; and 13,000 immigrants whose stay in Hong Kong does not depend on employment.
Around 5,000 Filipinos are classified as irregular or not properly documented.
Meanwhile, Philippine Consul General Bernardita Catalla emphatically urged Filipinos to avoid the protest areas.