China backs HK's demand for apology over hostage crisis
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Philippines says it is Manila mayor's duty to apologise, not the president's
China has expressed support for the sanctions imposed by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) against the Philippines over the August 2010 Manila hostage crisis and urged government officials to address the concerns of the victims’ families.
“The August 23 Hong Kong hostage incident affects the feelings of the Chinese, including Hong Kong compatriots,” Chinese foreign min?istry spokesman Hua Chunying said in a recent press conference.
“The Central government supports the efforts made by the Hong Kong SAR government for the proper settlement of follow-up matters. We urge the Philippine side to face squarely the concerns of the victims and their families, show sincerity and solve the relevant issues at an early date,” she said.
Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying announced on January 29 that the country will cancel visa-free arrangements for Philippine government officials and diplomatic passport holders from February 5.
Leung said the Philippine government had failed to respond to the demands of the victims’ families.
Hong Kong has been demanding a formal apologiy from the Philippines after seven of its citizens were killed in a hostage crisis at Luneta Park in Manila.
The hostage-taker, former policeman Rolando Mendoza, and one Filipino tour guide were killed during the rescue conducted by police that has been regarded as a bungled operation.
No apology
A day after Hong Kong announced its sanctions, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the Philippine government will not apologise and that “a substantive closure” had already been achieved three years ago.
“The sanction is unfortunate because a substantive closure on the Quirino Grandstand Incident had already been arrived at three years ago with the previous Hong Kong SAR government and the victims as well as their families,” DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez said at a press conference January 30.
“A total re-negotiation has been opened by the Hong Kong SAR government to demand an apology, which the Philippines, as a sovereign nation, is not prepared to consider,” Hernandez said.
Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada said the president of the Philippines should not be the one to apologise because the incident happened on the local government level headed by the mayor.
“[Hong Kong officials and representatives of the victims] still insist that the [resident should be the one to apologise. I told them that it’s the mayor who is responsible for what happens in a town or city,” Estrada told reporters on Friday.
At the time of the crisis, the city’s mayor was Alfredo Lim, who was defeated by former president Estrada in the May 2013 elections.
