HK chief hails central gov't, citizens for support over hostage crisis

Hong Kong Chief Donald Tsang on Wednesday expressed appreciation in his policy address for supports rendered by the Chinese central government and Hong Kong citizens during and after the Manila hostage crisis that resulted in the deaths of eight HK tourists.

In the Manila hostage incident, with the staunch support of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines, the HK support team managed to accomplish its relief tasks promptly, he said.

While underlining that the nation's diplomatic resources provide a firm backing for Hong Kong emergency response system, Tsang also pledged to further improve the existing response mechanism to offer better assistance to its citizens in distress outside Hong Kong.

Tsang also thanked Hong Kong citizens for their support to the families of the victims.

"Hong Kong people showed great nobility and empathy by their support to the families of the victims. The business sector also selflessly lent a hand by providing free charter flights and other assistance," he said.

The Hong Kong government said in a statement late Tuesday that it is disappointed at the second report by the Philippine government on the deadly hostage crisis.

"The Philippine government decided to lessen the recommended actions against the relevant officers named in the first report by the Incident Investigation and Review Committee. The people of Hong Kong, especially the survivors and the victims' families, will find this hard to accept. The Hong Kong SAR government is also disappointed," the statement said.

Philippine authorities handed the first report on the incident to China on Sept. 20, soon after which Philippine President Benigno Aquino III said the Review Committee had recommended the filing of charges against senior local and police officials who are believed to be liable for the hostage fiasco.

However, at a press conference on Oct. 11, Aquino said he recommended the filing of only administrative charges against four police officials for "gross incompetence and serious neglect of duty" over the hostage crisis. The president also recommended administrative proceedings against Manila Mayor Alfreo Lim and Deputy Ombudsman Emilio Gonzales.

Source: Xinhua