Philippines reviews blacklisting of Hong Kong journalists

The Philippines will review its entry ban on nine Hong Kong journalists who shouted questions at President Benigno Aquino during a summit in Indonesia last year, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said yesterday.

Journalist groups have expressed concern at the blacklisting, which threatens to sour ties that Hong Kong and the Philippines have been trying to repair since eight Hong Kong tourists were killed in Manila in 2010.

"The journalists' issue will be reviewed," del Rosario told AFP, when asked if Manila would reconsider the ban.

The reporters had their credentials withdrawn after they shouted questions at the Philippine leader during an APEC summit in Indonesia last year, and are currently unable to enter the Philippines for any reason.

They were blacklisted over "acts committed against the president during a summit in Bali, Indonesia", Bureau of Immigration spokeswoman Elaine Tan said on Saturday without naming the nine.