HONG KONG: Suspends Visa-Free Travel for Filipino Diplomats and Officials

HONG KONG: Suspends Visa-Free Travel for Filipino Diplomats and Officials

The current visa-free arrangement for visiting Philippine diplomats and officials will be suspended starting on February 5, 2014 onwards according to Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying in a press conference the other day.

Currently they are able to stay 14 days without a visa.

My neighbor Arch. Joyce asked me about it last night so I decided to blog about it to shed some light on the issue. I wish to clarify that the suspension of the 14-day visa free arrangement by the Hong Kong SAR Government effective 5 February 2014 will only be applicable to diplomatic (blue passport) or official (red passport) Philippine passport holders. Regular passport holders (green and maroon) are not affected. Mga kababayan, HINDI po kayo apektado sa policy na ito kung ang passport ninyo ay green o maroon.

Hong Kong is imposing sanctions on the Philippines because of its "unacceptable" failure to apologize for a deadly hostage crisis more than three years ago.

Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said the Philippines has already expressed its deepest regret and condolences over the incident and made a "generous offer" of payments to the victims and their families to resolve the issue.