Introduction to the Philippines’ hijacking of Hong Kong tourists on 8·23

On August 23, 2010, a tourist bus carrying 25 people (including 22 Hong Kong passengers) was hijacked by a former Philippine police officer near the Quirino Grandstand in downtown Manila, Philippines. After negotiations, The six Hong Kong tourists were released before noon. At around 7:40 pm on the 23rd, the Philippine police conducted a surprise rescue operation. Eight Hong Kong tourists died and six were injured. On August 24, 2010, the Hong Kong SAR government flew flags at half-mast to mourn the victims. On the 25th, the entire Philippines mourned the murder of Hong Kong tourists. On March 23, 2011, the Hong Kong court announced the cause of death in the Manila hostage case in the Philippines. The jury ruled that Kangtai team leader Xie Tingjun and other eight people died illegally. In 2012, the second anniversary of the incident, the Philippines still refused to apologize. The Philippine consul in Hong Kong accused Hong Kong people of not understanding how to forgive. On October 8, 2013, Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang stated that he would meet with Philippine President Benigno Aquino III on the 7th and demand an apology and compensation for the Manila hostage incident three years ago, punish those responsible, and ensure that similar incidents will not happen again. On the afternoon of October 22, 2013, the Manila City Government passed a special resolution to formally apologize to Beijing, Hong Kong and the hostage families for the hostage incident. On October 23, 2013, representatives of the Manila City Government arrived in Hong Kong to submit a letter of apology for the hostage incident. But Philippine President Benigno Aquino said that the Philippine government will not apologize for the Manila hostage incident. On February 1, 2014, three Philippine senators urged the Philippine government to apologize to Hong Kong for the Hong Kong hostage incident. 1On April 23, 2014, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government and the Philippine government issued a joint announcement on the Manila hostage incident. The Philippine government officially apologized to the victims and their families.