Hong Kong authorities bar Del Rosario from entering territory

Former Foreign Secretary Albert Del Rosario, who filed a case against Chinese President Xi Jinping over China's aggressive actions in the South China Sea, was barred from entering Hong Kong after being held by immigration authorities for six hours.

"Denied entry with no explanation after 6-hour hold," Del Rosario said in a text message.

Del Rosario, a vocal critic of China and who led efforts to bring the country's disputes with China to international arbitration in 2013 when he was Foreign Secretary, was supposed to attend a business meeting.

He was carrying a diplomatic passport.

"I keep reminding them that I’m traveling on a diplomatic passport and according to the Vienna convention they have no right to hold me," he said.

"It's clearly a harassment."

Del Rosario and former Ombudsmam Conchita Carpio-Morales have accused Chinese President Xi Jinping , Foreign Minister Wang Yi and China's envoy to Manila Zhao Jianhua of committing crimes against humanity in connection with Beijing's activities to gain control over most of the resource-rich South China Sea.

Carpio-Morales, in a recent trip to Hong Kong with her family, was also held for several hours at the immigration.

Unlike Del Rosario, Carpio Morales was given clearance to enter Hong Kong, but she and her family opted to return to the Philippines.

In their ICC complaint, Del Rosario and Morales said Xi and other Chinese officials are responsible for the marine environment that has suffered destruction and the loss of the fisheries resources in the area due to the creation of artificial islands, militarization, and various other activities that have ruined the environment in the South China Sea.

The case was filed before the International Criminal Court on March 15 - two days before the Philippines' exit from the tribunal.

'Harassment'

After being held for over four hours from arrival, Del 'Rosario accused Hong Kong immigration authorities of harassment for denying him entry without any explanation.

In an interview with GMA News' "Balitanghali," he said Hong Kong authorities remained mum as to why he is being held for hours, and stropping him from entering the territory he frequents for business purposes.

He said he is supposed to  attend meetings with investment management company First Pacific as one of the firms board members.

“I am here because of business, we have a board meeting in the morning which I was not able to attend and shareholders meeting after lunch. Hopefully, I will be able to attend that. So far, it is clear that we are being harassed,” del Rosario said.

“It has been four and a half hours, and the Consul General is still burning the lines, trying to find out what the reason (for stopping my entry) is,” Del Rosario added.

Del Rosario traveled with a diplomatic passport, but that apparently did not help him at all.

Del Rosario is already on board a Cathay Pacific flight back to Manila as of posting time. —with a report from Llanesca T. Panti/LBG, GMA News