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Chinese envoy: PHL witnesses safe from prosecution in HK hostage probe


Filipinos who will testify in Hong Kong’s investigation on the Aug. 23 Manila hostage crisis are safe from prosecution, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Lui Jianchao said on Wednesday. At a round-table forum with reporters, Liu said the investigation of the Hong Kong Coroner's Court will only determine what caused the deaths of the eight Hong Kong tourists held hostage by a disgruntled former policeman in the Philippine capital city. "The aim is to have the real cause of death and to have the assistance of the Philippine side. It's not going to be related to any legal prosecution of the witnesses. We'd like to have the cooperation of the Philippines in defining the cause of death [of the hostages]," said Liu. He said he is willing to meet with Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to explain the scope of the Hong Kong court's inquest proceedings, where over a hundred Filipino witnesses have been invited to testify. Last Tuesday, De Lima said she may invoke the Philippine-Hong Kong Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) that may compel Hong Kong to clarify the parameters of its inquest proceedings. She said the MLAT is "the best legal framework" that will protect the Philippines’ sovereignty as well as its citizens from being prosecuted in a foreign country. Black travel warning Also on Wednesday, Liu said despite the hostage fiasco, China is expecting to have "deeper cooperation" with the Philippines next year. "I'm happy that the relations have been moving forward," he said. These include the strengthening of China's political and economic ties with the Philippines, and even helping the Philippine tourism industry. Asked whether this will include the lifting of Hong Kong's black travel advisory on the Philippines, Liu quoted Hong Kong authorities as saying that the special administrative region may ease the travel warning "in due course." "During the visit [to Hong Kong] by Tourism Sec. Alberto Lim last week, the Hong Kong authorities announced they'll consider the easing of the travel warning to the Philippines in due course after examining the measures that have been taken or to be taken [to prevent another hostage tragedy]," said Liu. "I'd like to see more Hong Kong tourists come and enjoy the beauty of this country," he added. - KBK/LBG, GMANews.TV

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