No stopping Pinoy tourists to HK

Despite the escalating tension in Hong Kong, Filipino tourists are still pushing through with their vacation plans to make good use of the long weekend.

Reports said that Pinoy tourists continued with their trip as Monday, 12 August, has been declared a non-working holiday for Eid al-adha. They stressed that despite the protests, Hong Kong is still a peaceful place and authorities there are handling the situation well.

A Filipino tourist named Madel said they will go to tourist spots such as Hong Kong Disneyland.

“We were alarmed. However, it’s really not the same as the rallies in the Philippines I think. So it would be very safe as long as we’re not gonna wear white and black,” she said.

White and black were the standard outfits used by Hong Kong protesters in their rallies.

Passengers arriving at the Hong Kong International Airport on Friday were met with protesters who wore black and the airport’s Terminal 1 got crowded with protesters peacefully holding the protest, giving out flyers to inform passengers of the reasons for their action: opposition to the extradition law and a call to free arrested protest leaders.

The protesters said they held the action at the airport because they were assured there will be no violent dispersal in the area. It was business as usual at the airport despite the protest.

The Department of Foreign Affairs earlier strongly advised Filipinos in Hong Kong, or those traveling to the territory to avoid areas where mass protests and actions are being held.

Hong Kong’s leader Carrie Lam on Friday ruled out concessions to “silence the violent protesters,” as pro-democracy activists who have staged months of demonstrations rallied at the airport, according to a report by Reuters.

British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab called Lam on the phone on Friday to condemn the violence and called for an independent probe into the protests in its former colony but emphasized the right to peaceful protest.

“The Foreign Secretary emphasized the need to find a way forward through meaningful political dialogue, and a fully independent investigation into recent events as a way to build trust,” the Foreign Office in London said in a statement.

“(He) condemned violent acts by all sides but emphasized the right to peaceful protest, noting that hundreds of thousands of Hong Kong people had chosen this route to express their views,” it added.

“He underlined that the violence should not cloud the lawful actions of the majority.”