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Donald Tsang
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Flags fly low over a city in mourning for lives cut short

Donald Tsang
Adrian Wan

The pall of grief over Hong Kong was palpable yesterday, with flags flying at half mast, company nameplates and logos draped in black, the Hong Kong stock exchange struck silent for its opening minute, and even the Symphony of Lights cancelled.

Many public services, such as television stations, newspapers and online websites and forums, turned their logos or mastheads to black, and tens of thousands of messages appeared on condolence pages set up on social networking sites.

President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao expressed their condolences in a joint letter to Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen. Flags at all government offices will continue to be flown at half mast today and tomorrow.

The operator of the ill-fated tour, Hong Thai Travel, opened a message board on its website for 31-year-old tour guide Masa Tse Ting-chunn, killed in Monday's tragedy. More than 4,000 messages wishing him peace were posted. One read: 'You are a hero that should be admired. It is because you were the first and foremost to make a phone call to your company in HK, and let us know that you and the HK tourists were in danger in Manila. RIP!'

Many users of the social networking site Facebook started or joined pages, some of which lambasted the Philippine police.

The government set up a page - facebook.com/hkmourning.manila - dedicated to the victims in the afternoon and by 10pm it had more than 40,000 members.

The Home Affairs Department provided condolence books in each of the 18 districts for the public to express their grief.

Philippine consular officials expressed concern for the city's Filipinos. The United Filipinos in Hong Kong issued a statement on behalf of domestic helpers in the city saying: 'This act of hostage-taking ... must be condemned.'

The Catholic diocese and the Philippine consulate arranged prayer vigils for today and Sunday. All are open to the public.

Executive Council convenor Leung Chun-ying issued a statement demanding a full accounting by the Philippine government. It ended with: 'The concern and care shown by the whole community for the Hong Kong tourists held hostage and the solidarity of Hong Kong people are reassuring.'

Tsang laid a bouquet of flowers at the Leighton Hill Community Centre in the evening in memory of the victims. Government officials were advised against attending unnecessary public events, and some senior officials cancelled overseas trips.

Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Rita Lau Ng Wai-lan cut short an official visit to Europe and returned to the city.

Chief Secretary Henry Tang Ying-yen cancelled a visit to Italy and Switzerland that was to take place from today till Sunday.

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