Dear Ubuntu Sisters,

The work for the rights and dignity of migrant workers in Hongkong continues, as we all well know. The Ecumenical News Service recently reported on a Palm Sunday (April 5, 2009) march in Hongkong by 6,000 migrant workers which urged the Hong Kong government to ensure that the rights of Filipinos and other ethnic minority groups in the territory are indelibly protected, and their contributions to society recognised.

Can't you just envision the streets where the march took place and the intensity, strength and vibrancy of that gathering, given what we experienced of the wonderful women and men we met in Hongkong??

Let's continue to pray for justice and equality for all migrants in Hongkong and world wide!

Diane


H. K. Christian leaders join Filipinos to reject race discrimination
By Francis Wong

Ecumenical News InternationalDaily News Service
9 April 2009 ENI-09-0290

Hong Kong, 9 April (ENI)--Christian leaders on Palm Sunday highlighted racial discrimination in Hong Kong at a rally that attracted 6000 Filipino migrants, where protestors said such practices should not be tolerated.While those present at the 5 April rally were predominately Filipinos, some Thais, Nepalis and Indonesians also marched to the government head office after a best-selling magazine columnist had described the Philippines as a "nation of servants".The protesters, many of whom waved palms in commemoration of the procession by Jesus a week before he died, as a peace sign, called for strict enforcement of anti-discrimination laws in Hong Kong, which is a Special Administrative Region of China.The rally was supported by Evangelicals, Methodists, Roman Catholics and the World Student Christian Federation (Asia and Pacific region) as well as Muslims.Members of the Catholic Diocesan Pastoral Centre for Filipinos joined the rally to complain at a "master-slave" treatment of domestic workers in Hong Kong. They urged the Hong Kong government to ensure that the rights of Filipinos and other ethnic minority groups in the territory are always protected, and their contributions to society duly recognisedControversy had erupted when Hong Kong columnist Chip Tsao wrote in HK Magazine on 27 March, in what he called a satirical piece, an article he said was making fun of the poor treatment by Hong Kong people of the Filipino domestic maids many of them have.In his article titled "The War at Home", Tsao said he was angered by the Philippines' claim on the disputed Spratly Islands, where China also claims sovereignty. He said that if there were a war between China and the Philippines, he would be forced to fire his Filipino maid.The article was however, seen to ridicule the 127 000 Filipinos working in Hong Kong. Tsao later apologised after he was banned from entering the Philippines for his "arrogance and disrespect".While protesting at the demeaning treatment at the hands of many of their employers, church leaders and domestic workers at the 5 April rally urged the Hong Kong government to ensure that the rights of Filipinos and other ethnic minority groups in the territory are protected and their contribution to the development of the area is recognised.

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