Immigration officials in the Philippines released 28 Chinese workers on Tuesday, but are still detaining 63 for not having permits to work in the country, the Chinese embassy in Manila said Wednesday.

The released workers had legal work permits issued by the Clark Special Economic Zone at Clarkfield Pampanga, the Chinese embassy's police liaison officer Liu Lujun said.

The embassy has discussed with the Philippine Immigration Bureau the possibility of giving the 63 detained workers a three-month special work permit, Liu said. They could be released once they receive the permits.

"All the workers who have been detained are healthy, and are staying together in a building. Most of them will be allowed to continue working in the Philippines because of their special technical skills needed to operate equipment imported from China," Liu said, after a series of talks between the Philippines government and the Chinese embassy.

The 91 Chinese laborers were detained on August 16 after some Filipinos working in the Clark special zone complained that the Fontana Company had hired the Chinese to replace them, a Chinese Commercial News report said Wednesday.

(China Daily August 24, 2007)