Hong Kong writer: Sorry, we’re all servants

MANILA, Philippines – The Hong Kong columnist who has been the target of Filipino rage since he called the country “a nation of servants” issued a public apology Tuesday evening, admitting that he crossed the line and was sorry.

But Chip Tsao justified his choice of words, even citing Scripture in saying people are all “servants” of God.

“The ‘servant’ is a good term. A Hong Kong government official is a civil servant. We are all servants to God, right? I’m now aware that I’ve crossed the line and I offer my public apology,” Tsao said over Hong Kong’s ATV, a private and major television channel in the territory.

Only Tsao’s voice was heard on the evening telecast, which ran his photo and a file video.

The Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong reported yesterday to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) that Tsao’s apology was aired on ATV’s 7:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts.

In an AFP interview, Tsao said he was sorry if his satirical article caused offense.

“The article never intended to be insulting to the Filipino domestic workers,” he told AFP.

“English, being a global language, is open to different interpretations by those who come from various cultural backgrounds. Has anyone been deeply upset, it was never my intention and I feel sorry.”

Despite his apology, Hong Kong’s Filipino community will push through with its planned rally on Sunday.

“We are very, very angry at this article,” said Dolores Balladares, chair of United Filipinos in Hong Kong.

She said she expected thousands of marchers at this Sunday’s rally against Tsao.

“We are all united in our position that the article was racist, discriminatory and demeaning to Filipino domestic workers in Hong Kong,” she said in an earlier statement. 

Tsao raised hackles by writing that Manila’s claims to the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea were ridiculous in the face of Beijing’s rival territorial claims.

“As a nation of servants, you don’t flex your muscles at your master, from whom you earn most of your bread and butter,” he wrote.

More than 100,000 Filipinos work in the southern Chinese city of Hong Kong, mostly as low-paid domestic workers.

Tsao wrote in his column that he had warned his own maid that if she wanted a pay raise next year she should tell her compatriots the Spratlys belong to China.

He has since been barred from entering the Philippines, despite the magazine issuing an apology.

HK Magazine is published by Asia City Publishing Group, which runs free English-language listings and lifestyle titles in several Asian cities, including Bangkok and Singapore.

The diplomatic dispute over the Spratlys, believed to sit atop vast mineral and oil deposits, was renewed early last month when China sent a patrol vessel to the area.

The chain of atolls and reefs is also claimed in whole or in part by Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam.

Meanwhile, Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan maintained he has yet to hear a sincere apology from Tsao before he would lift the blacklist order.

“Did he already issue an apology? He should be sincere with his apology. I have not seen or heard from him,” according to Libanan, who arrived in Zamboanga Wednesday.

“If acceptable we will lift it, if it is not acceptable inasmuch as he is still defining his statement, we would like to peruse whether it is acceptable.”

Sen. Francis Pangilinan said it was good that Tsao has apologized and realized that he should not demean Filipino domestic helpers in Hong Kong.

He said the apology was a victory for Filipino migrant workers there who have learned to fight for their rights.

Sen. Francis Escudero stressed the government must pursue the filing of a damage suit against Tsao despite his purported apology.

“But let us also be reminded by his racist diatribe of the graver problems confronting our heroines in Hong Kong,” Escudero said.

Senators noted Tsao’s comments against the Filipinos and the Philippines as whole might be unacceptable but should also serve as a wake-up call that the country could not depend on sending its people abroad forever in order to survive.

They said the government could no longer shut its eyes to the growing problems faced by overseas Filipino workers given the global economic crisis, which would include racism, and thus its programs must focus now on how to generate jobs here and encourage OFWs to come back home.

“The racist remarks of Chip Tsao also contain veiled threats to our OFWs in Hong Kong. The country’s stand on the contested Spratly islands should not have a direct bearing on our countrymen working abroad. Our labor offices overseas should really watch out for racist remarks or attacks against our OFWs,” Sen. Manny Villar said.

Earlier, Villar issued a warning against the increasing incidents of so-called recessionary racism in Europe and the Middle East where a large number of OFWs are working. He said there was growing resentment and hostility toward migrants and foreign workers in various countries amid the ongoing global financial crisis.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson noted Tsao’s comments were “myopic” while Sen. Richard Gordon said it should drive the government to do better for its people.

Villar said that a long-term approach or strategy should be implemented in order to bring back as many OFWs to the country and give them equal or even greater opportunities than they would find working abroad.

Sen. Loren Legarda said with the dwindling job opportunities abroad due to the global economic downturn, “it is time for our government to develop strategies for future economic growth.”

Legarda said the government could start with small and medium industries that could start producing the manufactured products being consumed locally and develop them to large industries with economies of scale. – Pia Lee-Brago with Aurea Calica, Roel Pareño, Philippine Star