The publisher and editors of a magazine where Chip Tsao's 'politically incorrect' column appeared issued an apology on Monday.

“The publisher and editors of HK Magazine wish to apologize unreservedly for any offense that may have been caused by Chip Tsao's column dated March 27," the Asia City Publishing Group in Hong Kong said.

In their letter posted at the Department of Foreign Affairs' website, HK Magazine explained that they have long been championing the rights of Filipinos working in Hong Kong.

"We note that Filipinos have often been unfairly treated in Hong Kong, and that they make an important contribution to this community," said HK Magazine.

HK Magazine added that Tsao's column entitled "The War At Home" was satirical.

"One aspect of satire is that it can at times be read in different ways. In this particular case, many people have read meanings into this column that were never actually intended," it stated.

It went on to assure its readers that "we have nothing but respect for Filipinos, both living in Hong Kong and abroad."

Tsao’s column drew criticisms from Filipinos both working in Hong Kong and abroad, as well as migrants’ groups and Philippine lawmakers. Filipinos wanted Tsao and the publishers and editors of the magazine to issue a formal apology for demeaning Filipino domestic helpers.

In his column, Tsao wrote: “Manila has just claimed sovereignty over the scattered rocks in the South China Sea called the Spratly Islands, complete with a blatant threat from its congress to send gunboats to the South China Sea to defend the islands from China if necessary. This is beyond reproach. The reason: there are more than 130,000 Filipina maids working as $3,580-a-month cheap labor in Hong Kong. As a nation of servants, you don’t flex your muscles at your master, from whom you earn most of your bread and butter.”

He said that as “a patriotic Chinese man, the news has made my blood boil. I summoned Louisa, my domestic assistant who holds a degree in international politics from the University of Manila, hung a map on the wall, and gave her a harsh lecture. I sternly warned her that if she wants her wages increased next year, she had better tell every one of her compatriots in Statue Square on Sunday that the entirety of the Spratly Islands belongs to China”.

Tsao even threatened to end “Luisa’s” employment and send her back home if war breaks out between the Philippines and China, stating that “I would not risk the crime of treason for sponsoring an enemy of the state by paying her to wash my toilet and clean my windows 16 hours a day. With that money, she would pay taxes to her government, and they would fund a navy to invade our motherland and deeply hurt my feelings.”