Hostage fallout: Hong Kong bans Philippines travel

Manila/Beijing, Aug 24: Following the death of at least seven of its citizens in the Manila hostage crisis, Hong Kong has warned its citizens against travelling to Philippines.

A "black"travel warning has been issued by Hong Kong, urging cancellation of all travel to the Philippines and calling on Hong Kong people in the Philippines to leave as soon as possible.

The kin of the victims of the Monday, Aug 23 bus hostage arrived in Manila accompanied by medics, social welfare officials, police and immigration representatives in an aircraft chartered by the Hong Kong government.

Expressing anger over the way the hostage situation was handled, the families of the victims as well as Hong Kong authorities have sought answers from the Philippine government.

Terming it a "a major tragedy", Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang late on Monday, Aug 23, said that he found the handling of the situation "particularly the outcome disappointing".

The 12-hour hostage drama ended on a bloody note as at least seven Hong Kong tourists along with the 'hostage-taker', a dismissed Filipino police inspector, were killed.

With China also demanding a probe into the incident, Philippine President Benigno Aquino has promised answers.

Questions have been raised as to why the police did not rush to action before the sacked policeman, identified as Rolando Mendoza who took the bus hostage to demand his reinstatement, sprayed bullets into eight tourists.

OneIndia News