HK govt to send personnel amid Manila hostage crisis

The Hong Kong government will send representatives to the country amid a crisis where Hong Kong tourists are held hostage by a dismissed policeman in Manila. The Hong Kong news site, news.gov.hk, quoted Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee as saying that the Hong Kong government is "very concerned" about the ongoing hostage-taking at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila. "Both the Chief Executive and Chief Secretary have stressed that we should help the hostages return to Hong Kong as safely and quickly as possible," said the online report. "A special task force has been set up within the bureau. It is sending two officers from Hong Kong to Manila to assist," the report added. Lee said the HK goverment has already tapped the Chinese Embassy in Manila to coordinate with Philippine authorities handling the situation. Lee's office likewise communicated with the Philippine Consul General in Hong Kong to ask for an assurance that the hostages will not be harmed. Dismissed police Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza held hostage the tourists on Monday morning. The crisis is ongoing as of posting time. –VVP, GMANews.TV