Philippine officials to leave for Beijing, Hong Kong Thursday

The Office of Philippine Vice President Jejomar Binay said Wednesday that a high-level Philippine delegation will leave for Beijing on Thursday morning and will meet with Chinese officials the same day.

The delegation will go to Hong Kong on Friday to meet with Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang.

In Hong Kong, the delegation will visit the families of the victims and will meet with Filipinos before returning to Manila on Sunday.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino III has earlier announced that Vice President Jejomar Binay, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo and Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda will comprise the high-level delegation which will personally deliver the Philippine government's messages when meeting with Chinese leaders in Beijing and Hong Kong.

The hostage crisis in Manila, involving a 21-member Hong Kong tour group, ended on Monday night with eight hostages killed and several others injured, one of whom still in critical condition.

Source:Xinhua