CY Leung 'has plans' to press Manila over bus siege deaths
But he won't say what 'soft and harsh measures' will be used - in case the Philippines is watching
Hong Kong has "soft and harsh" measures up its sleeve in pressing the Philippines to resolve a botched hostage rescue in 2010, but its strategies must remain confidential for now because Manila officials keep track of the news, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying has suggested.
Leung was tight-lipped in the Legislative Council yesterday about the government's intentions for ministerial talks with the Philippines. He told lawmakers that the talks would get under way soon, more than three years after eight Hongkongers were killed and seven others injured in a bus siege in Manila.
Asked about the possibility of economic sanctions, he said: "We will use both soft and harsh measures to achieve our goals.
"We will consider [different suggestions] as a whole, but we cannot talk about them publicly … or in this session, because the Philippine government and their consul general in Hong Kong are also watching [us] on television."
Some pan-democratic lawmakers were dissatisfied with the response and wanted to know how the government planned to put pressure on Manila.
Leung called for unity in the city's fight for a resolution.
The official talks were looking less likely on Monday when Philippine Justice Secretary Leila De Lima said she had no plans to visit Hong Kong to apologise. But Leung reassured Legco yesterday that ministerial talks would take place soon, as he had recently received a reply from Manila.
He indicated that lawmakers should be patient as Hong Kong had been making gradual progress, as seen in his October 7 meeting with Philippine President Benigno Aquino in Bali and their agreement to hold the talks.
He said that a day after the Bali meeting, President Xi Jinping had taken the initiative to ask about its outcome, showing that Beijing was also concerned about resolving the issue.
Since the deadly siege on August 23, 2010, the victims' families have been asking the Philippines for a formal apology, compensation, punishment of the officials responsible and measures to ensure tourists' safety.
Leung said Hongkongers should "present a united front to outsiders" in their pursuit of justice. But his critics were vociferous. Lawmakers Albert Chan Wai-yip and Raymond Chan Chi-chuen were expelled from the chamber after heckling Leung.
Video: A tough day for CY Leung at the Chief Executive's question and answer session
