145 Chinese businessmen released in Manila (China Daily/chinadaily.com.cn) Updated: 2005-12-17 07:09
The Chinese Embassy in Manila is dealing with local authorities concerning
the arrest of 145 Chinese businessmen in a shopping mall, the Foreign
Ministry said on Friday.
The Philippines immigration officials arrested 102 Chinese businessmen on
Wednesday afternoon and another 40 on Thursday, a local Chinese-language
newspaper reported.
Sources with the Foreign Ministry confirmed the report, saying negotiations
are going on, but gave no further details.
All the businessmen have been released after each
paying 50,000 peso (about 7,100 RMB yuan) in recognizance, Chongqing Morning Post reported
Saturday.
Among the business people arrested on Wednesday, 49 are women and 53 men. The
oldest is 86, who said he had just arrived in Manila on the previous day with
valid documents and air ticket.
A witness said about 30 immigration officials took part in the operation. Two
young women were reportedly handcuffed and had some bruises on their bodies, and
another young man was half stripped and did not wear shoes. The young man tried
to escape but was captured.
Another two claimed that they were just students of a local university and
were detained when shopping in the mall.
The Philippine immigration authorities said that those detainees violated
immigration regulations, which stipulate that foreigners are not allowed to
carry out retailing business. The arrested Chinese were also accused of working
with tourism visas.
The immigration officials said they had received many complaints from
Philippine businessmen, who said their Chinese counterparts were engaged in
unfair competition.
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