HONG Kong lifted the diplomatic sanctions it imposed on the Philippines after former President and incumbent Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada met with Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying to offer official apologies for the incident, officials from both sides announced on Wednesday.
“It was a very fruitful and successful resolution of the case,” Estrada said in a telephone interview with the ABS-CBN television network via phone from Hong Kong. “Our relations with Hong Kong are now normal and I pledged on our side that all Hong Kong tourists will be
protected under my watch.”
“The resolution of the incident enables the normalization of the bilateral relations between Hong Kong and the Philippines,” Leung told reporters after the deal was struck.
Cabinet Secretary Rene Almendras, who was also present in the meeting with Leung, thanked the victims and relatives for accepting the terms of the apology.
“I am most grateful to the people of Hong Kong, especially the family members and the victims... that have now spoken out in favour of the final resolution,” Almendras said. “From here on end, we believe that it is time for us to heal the relationship.”
“The four demands made by the victims and their families on apology, compensation, sanctions against responsible officials and individuals, and tourist safety measures will be resolved and settled,” said a joint statement released by the Hong Kong government.
“The Philippine Government expresses its most sorrowful regret and profound sympathy, and extends its most sincere condolences for the pain and suffering of the victims and their families.
“In the spirit of solidarity and in acknowledgement of the loss of the victims and their families, an additional token of solidarity will be given to the victims or their families as a most sincere gesture of compassion of the people of the Philippines,” the statement added.
The joint statement did not mention the amount of the “token of solidarity,” but Hong Kong’s Cable TV News reported that the Philippines will offer HK$1.5 million ($193,482) for each of the deceased and HK$3 million for the injured in a compensation package which would total HK$20 million.
The statement added that measures would be undertaken to “hold to account those responsible and to see the outstanding proceedings conclude as soon as possible”
The statement was released after Leung received Estrada despite the diplomatic sanctions it imposed on the Philippines last February to pressure the Philippine government for an appropriate response to the tragedy in 2010.
Hong Kong had been infuriated by the Philippines’ response to the incident in August 2010 when a former local police officer hijacked a Manila tour bus in protest at his terminating from the police force.
Eight Hong Kongers were killed while seven others were wounded in a bungled rescue effort by Philippine security forces.
The Hong Kong Standard reported that several survivors and victims’ relatives met with HK Security Secretary Lai Tung-kwok and the director of the Office of the Chief Executive, Edward Yau Tang-wah hours after Estrada arrived.
Lawmaker James To Kun-sun said the compensation was “appropriate and acceptable” but they were bound by a confidentiality agreement that Estrada and his delegation of Manila councilors signed in a ceremony where the official apology of the City of Manila was presented.
Before leaving for Hong Kong, Estrada had said that the trip was a “joint effort” with the national government, but Malacañang denied official knowledge of the trip which they described as “Mayor Estrada’s initiative.”
Almendras also said he was not traveling with Estrada to Hong Kong on Tuesday morning but withheld the fact that he was to leave for the same destination on the evening of the same day.
There was no explanation for the apparent secrecy, but after the Hong Kong government released the joint statement, Palace spokesman Herminio Coloma Jr. said “Almendras has confirmed that the relationship between the Philippines and Hong Kong is now back to normal.”
Coloma also quoted Leung as thanking President Benigno Aquino III, who has consistently refused to apologize for the incident.
Aquino had admitted mistakes were made in the rescue efforts, but refused to apologize on behalf of the government because he said the hijacker caused the crisis.
Aquino’s refusal to apologize was one of the key factors that led to Hong Kong imposing in February visa restrictions against Philippine government officials.
“We would also like to thank former President and Mayor Joseph Estrada for his efforts that has contributed to this resolution,” Coloma added.
The Department of Foreign Affairs also issued its own statement lauding the resolution of the spat.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs welcomes the statement made by Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive CY Leung on the complete and final resolution of the Quirino Grandstand Incident of 23 August 2010 and the lifting of sanctions,” said DFA spokesman Charles Jose .
“The Philippines looks forward to working with the Hong Kong SAR government in turning a new page in bilateral relations,” Jose added.
According to the South China Morning Post, Leung said all parties worked “tirelessly” over the last six months to defuse tensions.
Leung said that Hong Kong lifted the “black” travel alert and reverted to amber after assurances from the Philippines over the safety of tourists in the country.
One of the relatives who was killed in the incident said he accepted the resolution and the compensation.
“I can’t say whether I’m happy with the result or the wordings [of the statement] but I’m glad this has all come to an end,” said Tse Chi- kin, brother of Hong Kong tour guide Masa Tse Ting-chunn.
“If we continue to dwell on this incident there will be negative impact on multiple parties, so we have finally accepted this arrangement,” Tse said. With AFP, Joyce Pañares and Sara Fabunan
 |
End of the dispute. Hong Kong Chief Executive
Leung Chun-ying addresses a press conference
in Hong Kong on Wednesday to announce the
end of a long-running dispute with the
Philippines over a hostage crisis in 2010 that
resulted in the death of eight Hong Kong tourists,
and following a deal on an apology from Manila
and compensation to the families of the victims. AFP
|
The breakthrough came after a deal was struck on the four demands of victims and their families on an official apology, compensation, sanctions against responsible individuals and tourist safety measures.
“The resolution of the incident enables the normalization of the bilateral relations between Hong Kong and the Philippines,” Leung told reporters after the deal was struck.
Cabinet Secretary Rene Almendras, who was also present in the meeting with Leung, thanked the victims and relatives for accepting the terms of the apology.
“I am most grateful to the people of Hong Kong, especially the family members and the victims... that have now spoken out in favour of the final resolution,” Almendras said. “From here on end, we believe that it is time for us to heal the relationship.”
“The four demands made by the victims and their families on apology, compensation, sanctions against responsible officials and individuals, and tourist safety measures will be resolved and settled,” said a joint statement released by the Hong Kong government.
“The Philippine Government expresses its most sorrowful regret and profound sympathy, and extends its most sincere condolences for the pain and suffering of the victims and their families.
“In the spirit of solidarity and in acknowledgement of the loss of the victims and their families, an additional token of solidarity will be given to the victims or their families as a most sincere gesture of compassion of the people of the Philippines,” the statement added.
The joint statement did not mention the amount of the “token of solidarity,” but Hong Kong’s Cable TV News reported that the Philippines will offer HK$1.5 million ($193,482) for each of the deceased and HK$3 million for the injured in a compensation package which would total HK$20 million.
The statement added that measures would be undertaken to “hold to account those responsible and to see the outstanding proceedings conclude as soon as possible”
The statement was released after Leung received Estrada despite the diplomatic sanctions it imposed on the Philippines last February to pressure the Philippine government for an appropriate response to the tragedy in 2010.
Hong Kong had been infuriated by the Philippines’ response to the incident in August 2010 when a former local police officer hijacked a Manila tour bus in protest at his terminating from the police force.
Eight Hong Kongers were killed while seven others were wounded in a bungled rescue effort by Philippine security forces.
The Hong Kong Standard reported that several survivors and victims’ relatives met with HK Security Secretary Lai Tung-kwok and the director of the Office of the Chief Executive, Edward Yau Tang-wah hours after Estrada arrived.
Lawmaker James To Kun-sun said the compensation was “appropriate and acceptable” but they were bound by a confidentiality agreement that Estrada and his delegation of Manila councilors signed in a ceremony where the official apology of the City of Manila was presented.
Before leaving for Hong Kong, Estrada had said that the trip was a “joint effort” with the national government, but Malacañang denied official knowledge of the trip which they described as “Mayor Estrada’s initiative.”
Almendras also said he was not traveling with Estrada to Hong Kong on Tuesday morning but withheld the fact that he was to leave for the same destination on the evening of the same day.
There was no explanation for the apparent secrecy, but after the Hong Kong government released the joint statement, Palace spokesman Herminio Coloma Jr. said “Almendras has confirmed that the relationship between the Philippines and Hong Kong is now back to normal.”
Coloma also quoted Leung as thanking President Benigno Aquino III, who has consistently refused to apologize for the incident.
Aquino had admitted mistakes were made in the rescue efforts, but refused to apologize on behalf of the government because he said the hijacker caused the crisis.
Aquino’s refusal to apologize was one of the key factors that led to Hong Kong imposing in February visa restrictions against Philippine government officials.
“We would also like to thank former President and Mayor Joseph Estrada for his efforts that has contributed to this resolution,” Coloma added.
The Department of Foreign Affairs also issued its own statement lauding the resolution of the spat.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs welcomes the statement made by Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive CY Leung on the complete and final resolution of the Quirino Grandstand Incident of 23 August 2010 and the lifting of sanctions,” said DFA spokesman Charles Jose .
“The Philippines looks forward to working with the Hong Kong SAR government in turning a new page in bilateral relations,” Jose added.
According to the South China Morning Post, Leung said all parties worked “tirelessly” over the last six months to defuse tensions.
Leung said that Hong Kong lifted the “black” travel alert and reverted to amber after assurances from the Philippines over the safety of tourists in the country.
One of the relatives who was killed in the incident said he accepted the resolution and the compensation.
“I can’t say whether I’m happy with the result or the wordings [of the statement] but I’m glad this has all come to an end,” said Tse Chi- kin, brother of Hong Kong tour guide Masa Tse Ting-chunn.
“If we continue to dwell on this incident there will be negative impact on multiple parties, so we have finally accepted this arrangement,” Tse said. With AFP, Joyce Pañares and Sara Fabunan
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