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One year later, HK 'black' travel ban continues for PHL


With no effective measures yet to protect Hong Kong tourists, there will be no lifting of the "black" travel ban to the Philippines, according to Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang to mark the first anniversary of the Manila hostage tragedy on Tuesday. "Philippine authorities (have yet) to take effective measures to protect the personal safety of Hong Kong tourists and restore people's confidence in local tourism, (that's) when (we) will consider adjusting the black travel warning," read an English translation of Tsang's Chinese-language blog entry. So far, only the Philippines and Syria are on Hong Kong's black list, which on Hong Kong's Outbound Travel Alert System indicates "severe threat". Tsang said he continues to seek justice for the victims, adding he wants to "trace the truth" of what happened on Aug. 23 last year. Eight Hong Kong tourists were killed along with their hostage taker, dismissed Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza, in a botched police rescue attempt last year. Mendoza had taken the busload of tourists hostage to demand his reinstatement in the Philippine National Police. The incident prompted Hong Kong to impose a black travel warning on the Philippines. A black warning discourages all travel to a particular country. So far, only the Philippines and Syria are on Hong Kong's black list, which on Hong Kong's Outbound Travel Alert System indicates "severe threat". In his blog entry, Tsang said Aug. 23 last year was a day full of sorrow, with eight people killed and many others suffering physical and mental trauma. "Although the incident has been a year (ago), people did not (forget). We often miss ... the deceased in the hope that they rest in peace, and wish the injured a speedy recovery, (and that) family members and survivors (can get) out of the shadows as soon as possible," he said. But he also noted that in the wake of the incident, the Hong Kong community united and helped each other, and got through the tough times together. Tsang lauded the victims for their self-sacrifice, noble sentiments, and bravery. He said hospitals had been providing treatment for the injured, while the Social Welfare Department provides support for the victims and their families. Also, he noted some Philippine private institutions had given an unconditional donation to the victims, while the Filipino people expressed condolences. He said the Hong Kong government had exhausted many means to urge the Philippine government to actively investigate the incident and do remedial work, including comforting the survivors and families of the deceased, and regularly publishing the results of incident investigation, and punishing the officials involved. — TJD, GMA News

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