【明報專訊】Lawmakers

People Power lawmaker Albert Chan Wai-yip (人民力量議員陳偉業, left) is one of the proponents of the visa ban. He argues that the government can by doing so demonstrate a tough stance towards the Philippines. The Civic Party (公民黨) suggests stopping official and business exchanges between Hong Kong and the Philippines, while the Democratic Party (民主黨) has made five suggestions, including stopping procurement (採購) of Philippine products and suspending cultural exchanges between the two regions.

Pro-establishment politicians, however, have warned against rash decisions. Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee (葉劉淑儀) suggests doing something more "practical" such as setting up a fund for victims of violence outside Hong Kong. Felix Chung, a lawmaker belonging to the Liberal Party (自由黨議員鍾國斌), is opposed to limiting Philippine domestic helpers from entering Hong Kong. But he thinks that our city can try to import helpers from other countries to avoid over-dependence on Philippine maids.

Families of victims

Families of those killed in the Manila tragedy are divided over the issue. Tse Chi-kin (謝志堅), the elder brother of Masa Tse Ting-chunn (謝廷駿), the tour guide who was killed in the incident, thinks that any way of forcing the Philippine government to apologise should be considered. However, Lee Ying-chuen (李瀅銓, right), who survived the tragedy, is against denying visas to Philippine domestic helpers, saying they should not be punished for the Philippine government's faults.

The business sector

Several sectors have expressed their willingness to boycott the Philippines. Lee Choi-wah, chairman of the Hong Kong Chamber of Seafood Merchants (香港海鮮業聯合總會主席李彩華), says the Hong Kong government may ban the import of coral reef fish (珊瑚魚) from the Philippines, which currently accounts for 20 to 30 percent of the imports. He says Hong Kong people can have fish imported from Indonesia or Malaysia instead, which are similarly priced.

Some merchants of processed food, however, disagree with such a sanction, arguing it is of little use.

Philippine domestic helpers in HK

Caught in the latest round of arguments between their native country and the people they serve, Philippine domestic helpers are divided over the issue. Some agree that their president should apologise to Hong Kong people. Others think it is indeed the Philippine culture not to apologise for others' faults, and they are not really afraid of sanctions by the Hong Kong government, as their services are also in demand in places like Canada.

The government

So far Chief Executive C Y Leung has not disclosed what action the government may take against the Philippines. He says he can't let Philippine people learn what he'll do next.