‘Insulting’ letter from HK is breach of protocol, says expert

The “insulting" letter from the government of Hong Kong pertaining to the hostage tragedy in Manila violates the protocol on international affairs, according to an expert. In an interview on GMA News’ “24 Oras," political analyst Dr. Clarita Carlos said the letter to President Benigno Aquino III was a bold act on the part of the Hong Kong government, more so if it indeed came from the region’s chief executive. The GMA News report disclosed that according to a reliable source, the letter, which the President said he chose not to reply to, came from no less than Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Donald Tsang. The letter was reportedly received in the immediate aftermath of the bloody hostage-taking at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila on August 23, where eight Hong Kong tourists were killed. On Thursday, during a rare panel interview with news anchors from major TV networks, Aquino said the Philippine government chose not to respond negatively to the letter, in order to prevent further tension with Hong Kong. (See: Hostage crisis will not define my administration – Aquino) "’Yung sulat ng opisyal na galing sa gobyerno ng Hong Kong, na sa ating tingin ay nakaka-insulto, ay hindi na rin po natin ni-respond. Dinaan na lang po natin sa kanilang People’s Republic of China government, na iparating na hindi ho yata tama ito hong sulat na ipinadala, hindi natin nagustuhan yung tono," he said. (We decided not to respond to that letter sent by the Hong Kong government, which we found insulting. We just coursed our response through the People's Republic of China government, that we think the letter we received wasn’t proper, that we didn't like its tone.) Aquino said the letter was addressed to him and contained "very minute details of what we are supposed to do." He refused to give further information. Carlos, a political science professor and an expert on international relations, said the letter violates the protocol on foreign affairs even if it came from Tsang, considered as Hong Kong’s top diplomatic officer. She said Aquino is still considered of a higher stature compared to Tsang, who heads only a special administrative region and not a nation. "Alam natin na itong kanilang head, ang kanyang katumbas lang ay para siyang governor ng isang probinsya. Tapos ang lakas-lakas ng loob niyang tawagan ang presidente, hindi ayon ‘yun sa protocol," Carlos explained in the newscast. (We know that the equivalent of Hong Kong’s chief executive is a mere governor of a province. Yet he had the guts to personally call the President. That’s not in line with protocol.) It was reported earlier that Tsang tried to call Aquino during the height of the hostage tragedy, but his call did not go through. (See: Why did Donald Tsang fail to contact President Aquino?) It must be noted that it was just one Filipino, a dismissed police officer, and not the whole Philippines, who held the tourists hostage, Carlos added. An apology from Aquino should have been enough, she said. "Nagawa na natin ang lahat ng maaari nating gawin. Tinanggap natin ang kanilang mga imbestigador. Usually ang countries hindi tumatanggap ng other country investigators," she explained. (We did everything that we can. We received their investigators. Usually, countries don’t grant entry to investigators from other countries.) The government, however, has been careful in dealing with Hong Kong authorities, as there are about 300,000 overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong and tourists from the region contribute much to the country’s economy. This is in addition to the government’s efforts to maintain good diplomatic relations with China, with which the country has developed significant ties relating to trade, investment, and travel. Hong Kong is a special Chinese administrative region. This same prudence is evident in the way the government is dealing with the resolution passed by the Hong Kong parliament, asking for a formal apology and compensation from the Philippines. "We duly note that fact, and that will be given consideration by and referred to concerned officials in due course," said Foreign Affairs spokesperson and Assistant Secretary Eduardo Malaya. Philippine officials and police authorities received a heavy flak barrage for allegedly bungling up the rescue operations, which resulted in the deaths of the Hong Kong tourists and the hostage-taker, dismissed Senior Police Inspector Rolando Mendoza.—Jerrie M. Abella/JV, GMANews.TV