Hong Kong lawmakers demand apology for Manila hostage killings

Sep 2, 2010, 14:55 GMT

Hong Kong - Hong Kong legislators on Thursday passed a motion calling for an apology and compensation from the Philippines for the death of eight tourists taken hostage in Manila last week.

The motion at a special meeting of the city's mini-parliament expressed 'strong dissatisfaction' over the handling of the hostage crisis on August 23 by the Philippines government and police.

The 60-member legislature called on the Hong Kong government to press for a formal public apology from Manila and for compensation for the families of victims.

Eight Hong Kong tourists died in a bloody end to an 11-hour siege, which began when sacked police inspector Rolando Mendoza took a tour bus hostage, demanding his job back. The standoff ended when police stormed the bus.

Liberal Party leader Miriam Lau, who proposed the motion, said Hong Kong police should be allowed to directly take part in the investigation into the deaths of the tourists.

Currently, the Philippines and Hong Kong governments are conducting separate inquiries into the killings, a situation Lau warned could lead to further conflict.

Hong Kong leader Donald Tsang has expressed anger at the incident, and tens of thousands of people took part in a march in Hong Kong Sunday to protest the handling of the crisis.