The Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong on Tuesday expressed concern about a Chinese official’s unfortunate choice of words in describing domestic helpers including Filipinos in the former British colony.
The Consulate General in a statement expressed belief that this is not reflective of the general sentiments of the Hong Kong community at large.
Filipino lawmakers, meanwhile, took turns lambasting the HK cabinet member, Regina Ip, and demanding an apology from her.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said that Hong Kong is home to more than 173,000 Filipinos working in Hong Kong as household service workers.
They have left their loved ones back home to earn a decent living taking care of Hong Kong families. This, in turn, has engendered positive impact on both the quality of life of the families concerned as well as the economy of Hong Kong as a whole, the statement added.
The DFA said that discrimination should have no place in any society, most especially Hong Kong, which prides itself as Asia’s World City.
A member of the government’s Executive Council or cabinet, Ip described Filipina domestic helpers as marriage wreckers.
Ip told how jilted expatriate wives had complained to her that their maids had led their husbands astray.
“I have received complaints from expatriate women… that Filipina domestic helpers seduce their husbands,” Ip said.
“I could only tell them that under the current laws it is quite difficult to regulate,” she said.
Eman Villanueva of the Hong Kong-based Asian Migrants’ Co-ordinating Body, said Ip should be banned from entering the Philippines.
“It is racist to stereotype a particular nationality,” said Villanueva.
Party-list Rep. Roy Seneres demanded Ip to first explain why many Filipinas in her country have become victims of sexual molestation and other forms of violence.
Marikina Rep. Miro Quimbo for his part pressed for an apology, saying that Ip had made offensive and unfair remarks against Filipina domestics.”They have made a sacrifice by leaving their families behind to be in Jong Kong to take care of some other family’s kids,” he said.