HONG KONG?Authorities on Monday said there was no anti-Philippines sentiment in the city and dismissed rumors that employers sacked Filipino maids to vent their anger over the Manila hostage bloodbath.

Messages circulated among the city?s 150,000-strong Filipino community last week claiming that more than 30 Filipino domestic helpers lost their jobs after the hostage crisis, in which eight Hong Kong tourists were killed.

Fears within the migrant community were further heightened by unfounded reports that three Filipinos were killed in Hong Kong last week.

Ngai Wing-chit, deputy secretary for security, said there was no evidence to support any of the rumors.

?We do not see the emergence of an anti-Philippines sentiment in Hong Kong,? he told a press briefing.

?I have asked my immigration colleague to check the actual situation, and they do not see a trend of Filipino maids being sacked.?

The average number of early job contract terminations among Filipino helpers remained unchanged at about 150 a day last week, he said, citing immigration statistics from June to August.

Ngai also praised the tens of thousands of Hong Kong people who participated in a memorial rally on Sunday for being calm and orderly.

There had been concerns about clashes between the rally group and mourners at a candlelight vigil held in central Hong Kong by Filipino unions.