Hong Kong shocked and angry
Source: Agencies |
August 24, 2010, Tuesday
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Print Edition
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HONG Kong's leader Donald Tsang criticized the handling of the hostage crisis in the Philippine capital yesterday in which eight Hong Kong tourists were killed after police commandos stormed the bus they were held in for more than 10 hours.
"It is most regrettable," said Tsang who appeared close to tears during a press conference. "The way it was handled, particularly the outcome, I find is disappointing."
Others in Hong Kong reacted with shock and some anger after what appeared to an ineffective rescue operation.
Police commandos could be seen breaking the windows of the bus minutes after a series of gunshots were heard and the driver of the bus was seen running to safety. The commandos then struggled repeatedly to smash their way into the bus for over half an hour. As they did so, further gunshots could be heard, causing the officers to duck down and take cover. After around an hour the gunman was eventually killed and the hostages freed.
"It's a tragedy and a farce," said Kevin Chan, a Hong Kong resident. "Why did it take them so long to get into the bus? They're not well disciplined and trained. Are they crazy?"
Another Hong Kong resident, Sunny Ho, said things could have been handled through calmer negotiations rather than brute force.
"It's really tragic. The Philippine police and government are totally incompetent. The government should have agreed to the request of the gunman and rescued the people first," Ho said.
Full account demanded
Said Tsang: "I hope the Philippines government can give me a full account of what happened."
Tsang said he had been trying to contact Philippine President Benigno Aquino III since 4pm, about five hours after the policeman hijacked the tour bus carrying the 21-member Hong Kong tour group. But all efforts failed, he said.
Tsang said he was extremely sad and disappointed about the tragedy and the loss of lives of Hong Kong residents. He extended condolences to the families of those killed and injured in the incident.
Tsang said his government would provide everything needed to assist those families.
The government said chartered flights had been arranged to take family members of the Hong Kong tour group to Manila last night and this morning. Some 11 families members were expected to take last night's flight while others would go to Manila this morning, said Tsang.
The government has issued the Black Outbound Travel Alert for the Philippines and requires tour groups still in the Philippines to come back as soon as possible.
Tsang said Hong Kong would lower the flag of the special administrative region at half-mast today to mourn the victims.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said last night, "The Chinese government expresses its grave condolence to the victims and its deep sympathy to the families of those Hong Kong compatriots."
China strongly condemns the violence of the hijacker, and will send a working team to the Philippines to deal with the aftermath, he said.
"It is most regrettable," said Tsang who appeared close to tears during a press conference. "The way it was handled, particularly the outcome, I find is disappointing."
Others in Hong Kong reacted with shock and some anger after what appeared to an ineffective rescue operation.
Police commandos could be seen breaking the windows of the bus minutes after a series of gunshots were heard and the driver of the bus was seen running to safety. The commandos then struggled repeatedly to smash their way into the bus for over half an hour. As they did so, further gunshots could be heard, causing the officers to duck down and take cover. After around an hour the gunman was eventually killed and the hostages freed.
"It's a tragedy and a farce," said Kevin Chan, a Hong Kong resident. "Why did it take them so long to get into the bus? They're not well disciplined and trained. Are they crazy?"
Another Hong Kong resident, Sunny Ho, said things could have been handled through calmer negotiations rather than brute force.
"It's really tragic. The Philippine police and government are totally incompetent. The government should have agreed to the request of the gunman and rescued the people first," Ho said.
Full account demanded
Said Tsang: "I hope the Philippines government can give me a full account of what happened."
Tsang said he had been trying to contact Philippine President Benigno Aquino III since 4pm, about five hours after the policeman hijacked the tour bus carrying the 21-member Hong Kong tour group. But all efforts failed, he said.
Tsang said he was extremely sad and disappointed about the tragedy and the loss of lives of Hong Kong residents. He extended condolences to the families of those killed and injured in the incident.
Tsang said his government would provide everything needed to assist those families.
The government said chartered flights had been arranged to take family members of the Hong Kong tour group to Manila last night and this morning. Some 11 families members were expected to take last night's flight while others would go to Manila this morning, said Tsang.
The government has issued the Black Outbound Travel Alert for the Philippines and requires tour groups still in the Philippines to come back as soon as possible.
Tsang said Hong Kong would lower the flag of the special administrative region at half-mast today to mourn the victims.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said last night, "The Chinese government expresses its grave condolence to the victims and its deep sympathy to the families of those Hong Kong compatriots."
China strongly condemns the violence of the hijacker, and will send a working team to the Philippines to deal with the aftermath, he said.
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