Philippine delegation to visit Hong Kong over 2010 hostage tragedy

A Philippine presidential palace official will accompany Manila's mayor to Hong Kong next week in an attempt to resolve the 2010 hostage tragedy, marking the first visit by officials since Hong Kong imposed sanctions in February.

Joseph Estrada plans to extend an official apology as mayor, sources say. It is unclear whether Secretary to the Cabinet Jose Rene Almendras, President Benigno Aquino's senior aide, will do the same. Other city councillors are part of the delegation.

Estrada, a former president, will invite relatives and victims to Manila as guests of the city government for an August "prayer event", two separate sources say.

Manila councillor Bernardito Ang confirmed Estrada's trip to Hong Kong, saying a meeting between him, Hong Kong officials and relatives of the slain victims had been arranged by Almendras.

Estrada's spokesman, Diego Cagahastian, said: "[He] will have a meeting with Hong Kong officials. He will also have a meeting with a group of victims."

Both sources said the city of Manila, through Estrada, had already invited the victims and relatives to the prayer event.

"The relatives of the victims will arrive in Manila later on to conduct a prayer event at the Luneta," Cagahastian said, referring to the place where four years ago Rolando Mendoza hijacked a tour bus filled with Hong Kong tourists and demanded his reinstatement as a Manila policeman. Eight Hongkongers were killed in the ensuing bloodshed.