DFA: No need to evacuate pinoys in Hong kong
Credit to Author: BERNADETTE T. REYES| Date: Sat, 16 Nov 2019 16:14:31 +0000
THERE is no need to evacuate Filipinos in Hong Kong, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday said.
The DFA has assured the public that contrary to false reports circulating on social media, Filipinos in Hong Kong “remain safe and are largely unaffected by the ongoing protests in the area.”
Hence, the government “sees no need to evacuate them at this time,” the DFA said in a statement.
“The Philippine Consulate General (PCG) in Hong Kong is closely monitoring the situation and is taking every step to ensure the continued safety and well-being of our nationals there,” the DFA said.
It advised those following the impact of developments in Hong Kong on Filipinos there to visit the consulate’s website for updates and advisories, instead of turning to questionable sources of information on social media.
The consulate on November 12 advised Filipino tourists to skip Hong Kong because of the “unreliable” mass transportation system as a result of continued protest actions.
In a three-minute video message he posted Tuesdsy, Consul General Raly Tejada said that Filipinos, with jobs waiting for them in Hong Kong, may return since the airport was “open and functioning.”
“Nais ko lang po ipaalam sa lahat na ang mga Pilipino po dito sa Hong Kong ay nananatili pong safe at nasa maayos na kalagayan (I’d like to inform everyone that the Filipinos here in Hong Kong are safe and in good condition),” Tejada said.
“Siguro na lang po dun sa mga non-essential travelers na gustong maglibot-libot dito sa Hong Kong at mamasyal siguro, maybe p’wede pong ipagpaliban na lang po muna (For those non-essential travelers who want to tour Hong Kong, perhaps, [you may opt to] postpone [your trip],” he said.