HK tourists cut vacation short after hostage crisis

A day after a bloody hostage crisis that killed at least 10 Monday, many tourists from Hong Kong cut short their vacation in the Philippines. Police also tightened security at hotels where tourists from Hong Kong and China were staying, as well as hospitals where some of the hostages were confined. "(We) were advised to go home immediately," a report by radio dzBB's Denver Trinidad quoted one of the departing Hong Kong tourists as saying. Tourist buses were parked outside a hotel in Manila's tourist district where several tourists from Hong Kong were billeted, to take them to the airport. However, the report said some Hong Kong residents appeared to ignore the advice, pushing through with their vacation in the Philippines. At least 10 people were killed in Monday's crisis, including hostage-taker dismissed Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza. The incident prompted the Hong Kong Security Bureau to impose a "black" outbound travel alert on the Philippines, meaning Hong Kong residents should "avoid all travel to the country." Meanwhile, police security was also tight at the nearby Manila Doctors' Hospital, where some of the hostages were brought. Relatives of the hostages went to the hospital early Tuesday. The report said three of the hostages were confined there. The bodies of at least three slain hostages were also brought there. Meanwhile, flag carrier Philippine Airlines offered to bring the hostages home for free, according to a report on dzBB radio. PAL president Jaime Bautista said they are coordinating with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Hong Kong officials on the matter. –VVP, GMANews.TV