- Joined
- Jan 11, 2011
- Messages
- 482
- Points
- 0
HK declares sanction against the Philippines
Xinhua, January 30, 2014
The Hong Kong government on Wednesday declared a sanction against the Philippines due to Manila failed to make official apology and meet other demands by families of victims died in a hostage crisis three years ago.
Chief Executive CY Leung announced that the sanction will take effect on Feb. 5 by suspending 14-day visa-free treatment for holders of the Philippine diplomatic and service passports.
According to Leung, the suspension of the courtesy treatment would be just the first-phase measure of the sanction.
"The deadline for negotiation with the Philippines has run out and the Philippine government still has not satisfied all the demands claimed by the injured and families of the victims including an official apology," Leung said.
"The SAR government and the families consider that the Philippine response is unacceptable," he said in a press conference held by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government.
A dismissed local police officer, Rolando Mendoza, hijacked a tourist bus carrying 25 people in Manila on Aug. 23, 2010. Mendoza and eight Hong Kong tourists were killed, and seven injured during the tragedy.
The injured and families of the victims have claimed four demands: official apology, compensation, punishing accountable officials for the handling in a bungled rescue attempt, as well as improving security measures for tourists in the Philippines.
The Philippine President Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III has consistently refused to make an open apology, saying it is against the Philippine culture to apologize for mistake of individuals.
In last November, Leung said his government would go on pushing for progress in talks with the Philippine government and announced a deadline of one month after which "necessary actions" would be taken unless "substantial progress" was made.
The Chief Executive said earlier this month that the negotiation had achieved preliminary effects after his meeting with Philippine president in Indonesia, which apparently was still no match for the four demands.
