Deadline for bus hostage sanctions against Manila stays, despite typhoon
Chief secretary says possible sanctions against Manila will not be delayed, even though nation is struggling to cope with aftermath of Haiyan
Hong Kong has "no plan" to delay possible economic sanctions against the Philippines over the Manila bus hostage crisis, despite the devastation caused by Super Typhoon Haiyan.
Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said the government would not extend the one-month deadline it set last week for the demands of survivors and victims' families to be addressed. Lam's comments were described as "cold and heartless'' by a Filipino community leader.
They came as President Xi Jinping phoned his Philippine counterpart Benigno Aquino to offer his condolences.
Haiyan has killed more than 2,000 and left hundreds of thousands homeless.
There is confusion over the toll, after Aquino suggested initial estimates of 10,000 deaths in Tacloban city alone had been fuelled by "emotion".
But aid workers fear the toll will rise rapidly as help has yet to reach remote areas hit by the typhoon. It is predicted the economic losses could total US$15 billion - 5 per cent of the country's gross domestic product.