Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte visits Hong Kong for weekend getaway, one day after hinting at health problems

Photos posted on Facebook by his special assistant showed the leader and his family shopping and having a meal in Causeway Bay

Reading Time:3 minutes

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (left) in Hong Kong on Saturday night with his special assistant, Christopher Bong Go (centre) and members of his security detail. Photo: Christopher Bong Go

Published: 12:30am, 7 Oct 2018Updated: 1:52pm, 7 Oct 2018

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is in Hong Kong, and spent Saturday night shopping and having a meal in Causeway Bay with his family and security detail, according to photos posted by his special assistant on Facebook.

Before his unannounced trip, Duterte revealed to military generals that he had another endoscopy and colonoscopy on Wednesday in order to obtain “samples”.

In the televised speech on Thursday night, he added: “I will tell you if it’s cancer”.

A senior Hong Kong government source told the Post that Duterte and his party arrived on Friday night and the 73-year-old president was staying at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Wan Chai. Police had stepped up patrols around the area.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in Hong Kong on Saturday night with his family and special assistant. Photo: Christopher Bong Go

“He and his family members will leave the city by Sunday evening. They came here for a holiday and will have no official events,” the source said.

Another person with knowledge of the matter said Duterte had no meetings with Hong Kong officials scheduled.