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Tse Chi-hang

Leung Chun-ying to raise Manila hostage issues at Apec summit

Chief executive promises to raise issues of an apology and compensation for Manila tragedy

Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying met survivors of the Manila hostage tragedy yesterday, and promised to pass on their demands for compensation and an apology to the Philippine leader when they meet at a regional summit this week.

Leung and Philippine President Benigno Aquino are due to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation Summit in Vladivostok, Russia, on Friday and Saturday.

Tse Chi-hang, a spokesman for the victims and their relatives, told the media after the meeting that Leung promised to pass on their demands in talks with Aquino, and to deliver a letter from survivors to President Hu Jintao at the summit.

The letter asks Hu to press their demands with the Philippine government.

The hostage incident took place on August 23, 2010, when sacked policeman Rolando Mendoza hijacked a bus full of Hong Kong visitors. He shot eight dead and injured seven.

Tse, the younger brother of slain tour guide Masa Tse Ting-chunn, said Leung's goal was consistent with demands for the Philippines to compensate and apologise to the survivors and victims' families.

The group is also demanding that the officials responsible for the bungled rescue be made accountable for safety of future tourists.

"This past week, we set up street-side booths and have collected 30,000 signatures for our petition. We feel encouraged to see so many Hongkongers still backing us in our demands," Tse said.

Those wishing to support the group's cause can sign an online petition at www.rip823.com which had 8,100 signatures as of yesterday.

Since the incident, the Security Bureau has stamped the Philippines with a black travel alert warning Hongkongers to avoid all travel there. The only other nation with such a travel alert is Syria.

According to Philippine tourism officials, 112,106 Hongkongers visited the country last year, 16 per cent fewer than in 2010.

While slightly more Hong Kong tourists visited Manila in the first half of this year compared to 2011, the number is still below that prior to the tragedy.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Leung to take demands to Aquino
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