Government hopeful Hong Kong will lift black travel alert on Phl

MANILA, Philippines –  The government is hoping that Hong Kong will eventually lift its black travel alert on the Philippines, amid efforts by the Aquino administration to rebuild diplomatic ties with the special administrative region.

Hong Kong imposed its highest travel alert on the Philippines hours after the hostage crisis at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila last Aug. 23 left eight Hong Kong tourists and the hostage taker dead.

The Philippine government recently sent Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim to Hong Kong on a goodwill mission to discuss the measures being undertaken by the Aquino administration.

Lim also updated Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang on the administrative and criminal charges filed against police officers and local government officials identified as liable in the failed police rescue operation in the report of the incident investigation and review committee, and on the institutional reforms being studied by the IIRC for its second report.

Lim also assured Tsang that the Philippines would cooperate with the Coroner’s Court proceedings in February, in accordance with established practices on mutual legal assistance.

Lim said the details of the so-called “token of solidarity” to survivors of the hostage shooting are being worked out.

Malacañang announced that a non-government organization is willing to help the Philippine government extend financial assistance to the survivors of the hostage taking.

Undersecretary Abigail Valte said an alternative to financial compensation for the victims is health insurance. 

The Philippine government is now working on providing better protection for tourists.

The Department of Tourism and the Philippine National Police recently launched the National Tourist-Oriented Police for Community Order and Protection program, which provides for the formation of units within the PNP to ensure the safety of tourists in major travel destinations in the country.