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MANILA, Philippines鈥擳he Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reacted sharply on Saturday to a proposal by a political party in Hong Kong to ban Filipino domestic workers from the Chinese territory until the Philippines issues an apology for the death of eight HK tourists during a bus hijack in Manila more than three years ago.

The status of thousands of innocent Filipino domestic workers in Hong Kong should not be leveraged with the city鈥檚 appeal for a categorical apology from the Philippines for the tragic result of the bus hijack incident at Rizal Park on Aug. 23, 2010, the DFA said in a statement.

鈥淟et us de-link the issue from the Filipino workers in Hong Kong whose dedication to their work and high skill set have contributed to the society and economy of Hong Kong,鈥� said Assistant Secretary Raul Hernandez, the DFA spokesperson.

Hernandez cited the longstanding presence of Filipinos in the former British colony, adding that most Hong Kong residents shared a different view from lawmaker Albert Chan Wai-yip, who led the ban call.

Eman Villanueva, spokesperson for the Asian Migrants鈥� Coordinating Body, was quoted in the South China Morning Post as saying that Chan was 鈥渂arking up the wrong tree.鈥�

鈥淐han is just exploiting the political situation to gain popularity. What does the visa issue have to do with the Manila hostage incident? This is racist and he should be ashamed,鈥� Villanueva was also quoted as saying.

Roughly 160,000 Filipino domestic workers are employed in Hong Kong.

The DFA said the Philippines continued to work with the Hong Kong government to resolve the emotionally charged issue.

President Aquino himself had to face Hong Kong鈥檚 unmet demand for an apology again during the recent Asia Pacific Economic (Apec) forum in Bali, Indonesia, where Hong Kong journalists shouted questions about the issue at him. The group was kicked out of the event for disrespecting the Philippine leader land violating decorum rules.

The President did not issue an apology during a meeting with Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chunying on the Apec sidelines but again extended the country鈥檚 condolences and regret for the incident.

The DFA earlier explained that the incident 鈥渉as been fully settled鈥� and that 鈥渇inancial tokens of solidarity鈥� had been sent to the victims鈥� families.

Chan鈥檚 political party, ironically named People Power, is described as a 鈥渞adical pan-democratic group.鈥�

In making his ban call, Chan said President Aquino 鈥渉as been humiliating Hongkongers,鈥� adding that the city鈥檚 government 鈥渉as the responsibility to take a tougher stance to penalize the Philippines for its response to the tragedy,鈥� said a report by the South China Morning Post.

Meanwhile, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the government will prepare alternative markets for Filipino workers in Hong Kong should the proposal to ban Filipino domestic workers push through. With a report from Tina G. Santos