Filipino migrant workers in Hong Kong warned to stay away from Occupy Central protests
Foreign Affairs spokesman says the warning is for safety and that joining protests does not mean automatic deportation
Filipino nationals in Hong Kong were avoiding Occupy Central protests on the National Day holiday after receiving warnings that they could be jailed, fined or possibly even "deported".
Chater Garden and surrounding areas in Central are usually packed with Filipino workers on their days off – singing, dancing and having lunch together – but on Wednesday the crowd was considerably smaller.
Filipino domestic helpers on their day off have been avoiding the protest zones in Admiralty, Central, Causeway Bay, Mong Kok and Tsim Sha Tsui after the Philippine consulate issued a warning that it would be unsafe or possibly illegal to join the demonstrations.
Using more strongly worded language than other consulates, the Philippine Consulate General in its notice urged all its nationals to “avoid venues of these protest actions … to ensure your safety and avoid being inadvertently perceived as being part of the protest actions”.
It warned: “The Public Ordinance of Hong Kong SAR takes disorder in public areas seriously and anyone found guilty of an offence can be fined HK$5,000 and/or imprisoned for 12 months”.
Mary Rose Huad, a 36-year-old Filipino domestic helper who is avoiding the protests, confirmed the fine mentioned in the notice was a strong deterrent. “I don’t have HK$5,000!” she told the .
