Looking back, hopefully with a degree of perspective, on the Manila hostage tragedy, I am left with a sense of deep disquiet about the attitudes of the Hong Kong government, politicians and much of the media. Tragedies usually bring out the best in people. But they can also sometimes reveal some unpleasant attitudes. In that category is the extraordinary outpouring of media hype and officially sponsored grief.
The 80,000-strong march involving most political parties; the official presence at private funerals; the one-minute silences: what really was the motive behind this unprecedented, high-profile public mourning for private people? What really was behind the calls for travel boycotts and other measures against the Philippines and Filipinos?
In the wake of the tragedy, there were reports of sackings and attacks on Filipino maids, prompting appeals not to let this become a racial issue. But a racial issue it undoubtedly was in Hong Kong where locals are masters and Filipinos are servants.
For sure, the families and friends of the victims had every reason for fury at the gunman for taking innocent foreign lives in pursuit of a local and personal grudge. Every reason, too, to be angry at the Manila police for questionable negotiating tactics and a bungled rescue operation.
And yet the city treated this as an international incident focused more on the Philippine government than the gunman. Beijing itself initially joined the chorus, demanding an explanation and proper protection for its citizens. It soon saw the danger of inciting too much xenophobia and closed down mainland media discussion of the issue. But it does want to see more national and ethnic consciousness in Hong Kong, so it was no surprise that the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong was in the forefront of protests and demands.
Some media described the incident as 'Hong Kong's 9/11', even though there was never any suggestion that the gunman was ideologically or politically motivated, or that it was anything other than chance that his victims were Hong Kong Chinese. The 9/11 comparison made Manila appear culpable rather than just incompetent.