Domestic workers protest over Regina Ip’s ‘racist’ comments on Filipino helpers ‘bedding expat bosses’

March in Central comes a week after controversial comments from Executive Councillor

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Protesters march with banners in Central on Sunday over Regina Ip's comments about Filipino maids sleeping with their expat bosses. Photo: Franke Tsang

Published: 1:30pm, 26 Apr 2015Updated: 8:41pm, 27 Apr 2015

Around 300 domestic helpers and their supporters protested for the second time in a week against executive councillor Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee's "racist" comments about helpers sleeping with their expatriate bosses.

"No to discrimination! No to racism! Respect migrant workers' rights!" protesters chanted as they marched from Chater Garden in Central to the government headquarters in Admiralty yesterday.

Ip sparked outrage last week when, in an article in Ming Pao that was also published on her website and Facebook page, she said she had received complaints from "foreign women" living in Discovery Bay that the government was "allowing Filipino domestic helpers to seduce their husbands".

A total of 130 concern groups have signed a joint statement declaring that they are aware of Ip’s apology, which they said was a victory.

A protester among the hundreds marching over Regina Ip's comments. Photo: Franke Tsang/SCMP

The statement also says that the groups were aware of Ip's apology, describing it as a "victory" in their campaign to "correct a grievous wrong committed against" migrant women.

"We welcome this conciliatory gesture, but hope that Mrs Ip will be more circumspect in what she says in the future to prevent another backlash and social division," reads the statement.