PH-HK negotiations on hostage crisis continue

In this file photo taken on August 23, 2010, Philippine policemen take position as they start their attack on a hijacked tourist bus in Manila. AFP FILE PHOTO

HONG KONG—With a week to go before the end of Hong Kong’s ultimatum, the Philippine Consulate General (PCG) assured Filipinos that “quiet negotiations” between Manila and the autonomous Chinese territory are continuing to resolve the dispute over the 2010 hostage crisis.

“Discussions and negotiations will continue and we look forward to resolving the issues at the earliest possible time, but in keeping with the agreement to work quietly to find a final solution,” the PCG said.

In a statement, the PCG pointed to a joint statement issued by Hong Kong and the Philippines on Nov. 19 as one concrete development on the issue.

The joint statement had announced that the Philippines was “making an additional token of solidarity” to defray the cost of urgent surgery of one of the survivors, Ms. Yik Siu Ling. It also made known the designation of Philippine Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras and the Director of the HK-SAR Chief Executive’s Office, Edward Yau, as the representatives tasked to address the demands of the victims.

The PCG clarified that the “development” promised by Almendras when he met with Filipino community leaders on Nov. 19 was actually that joint statement.

“The joint statement released by both governments was the move towards the ‘concrete steps’ that government is taking,” the PCG added.

The PCG said Almendras did not announce the joint statement during the meeting with the community leaders because of a prior agreement with his HK counterparts that no announcement would be made prior to the release of the joint statement.

“We will release another statement when the right time comes,” it added.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-Ying on Nov. 5 said sanctions would be imposed on the Philippines in a month’s time if it failed to take “concrete steps” to address the demands of the victims of the hostage-taking incident.

The Hong Kong Legislative Council also passed a non-binding resolution calling on the city government to impose sanctions on the Philippines, including the suspension of the 14-day visa-free entry privilege for Filipinos visiting Hong Kong.

Eight Hong Kong people died on August 23, 2009 after sacked policeman Rolando Mendoza took a busload of Hong Kong tourists hostage in Manila.

Relations between Hong Kong and Manila deteriorated after President Aquino refused to apologize for what many saw as a botched attempt to rescue the hostages and the bloodshed that ensued.

There are an estimated 130,000 Filipinos working in Hong Kong, mostly as domestic workers.