A senior Philippine official urged the Hong Kong government on Wednesday not to cut the wages of foreign maids in the territory. The call came during a visit by the Philippines' Secretary of Labor Patricia Sto Tomas to Hong Kong, where the government is facing pressure from employers to cut the minimum wage of maids to alleviate the pain of an economic downturn. --Reuters

Thailand said on Wednesday it expected foreign tourist arrivals to the country in 2001 would rise by about 4 percent from 2000 despite the impact of the Sept.11 attacks and a crackdown on Thailand's nightlife. Thai tourism authorities said tourist arrivals this year would rise to 9.9 million from 9.51 million in 2000.--Reuters