By Roy Mabasa
Filipinos with no urgent business or purpose are advised to avoid using the Hong Kong International Airport as destination or stopover in the meantime as the situation in the former Crown Colony continues to be unpredictable due to the series of protests, the Philippine government said on Friday.
A general view shows Hong Kong's International Airport on August 14, 2019.(Photo by Philip FONG / AFP / MANILA BULLETIN)
The Philippine Consulate has received reports of upcoming protests in Hong Kong on the following dates and places:
17 August: Chater Garden, Central to Central Government Offices, Admiralty; Hung Hom Pier to Sung Wong Toi Garden, Kowloon
18 August: Victoria Park, Causeway Bay to Chater Road, Central
19 August: “Clean up MTR carriages”
25 August: Kwai Tiang Theatre, Kwai Chung to Tsuen Wan Park
In view of the scheduled protests, Filipinos are asked to avoid these areas and refrain from wearing clothing and/or carrying anything that could mistakenly identify them as participants to the protest actions.
Filipino travelers departing from Hong Kong are requested to contact their respective airlines at least five hours before their scheduled flights to check if their flights will push through.
For the past ten consecutive weekends, hundreds of protesters have been battling the police following the controversial proposed legislation to allow the extradition of Hong Kong residents to Mainland China.
Due to intense public pressure brought about by the series of mammoth rallies and confrontations between the protesters and the police, the Hong Kong leadership suspended the proposed legislation.