Noy refuses to apologize during meeting with HK leader

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III has met with Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Chief Executive Leung Chun-Ying to discuss updates on the 2010 Manila hostage crisis.

Aquino told the media at the sidelines of this year's APEC Summit in Bali, Indonesia that Chun-Ying asked for the meeting which focused on the August 23, 2010 hostage crisis, Radio Television Malacañang (RTVM) said on its website.

According to RTVM, Aquino was able to explain the Philippine government's side on the issue that it neglected the request of Hong Kong for a public apology on the tragedy, where several Hong Kong tourists were killed by a dismissed policeman.

“Sabi ko sa kanila, sa culture namin when we apologize then it admits that we are at fault as a country, as a government and as a people. And we pointed out that from our perspective, there is one lone gunman responsible for this tragedy,” RTVM quoted Aquino as saying.

Aquino also extended the government’s "sincerest condolences and deepest regret" to the officials and families of the hostage victims.

The meeting between the two officials comes after some Hong Kong journalists reportedly shouted questions at Aquino regarding the Manila hostage crisis.

The Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) said in a statement that the reporters involved are from Now TV, Commercial Radio and Radio Television Hong Kong, who have been barred by Indonesian authorities from covering the APEC ministerial conference.

Philippine officials have expressed concern over the alleged heckling incident while the HKJA condemned the barring of Hong Kong reporters to the event.

Read: HK reporters heckle Noy, get APEC boot | HK reporters crossed the line for shouting at PNoy, Palace says

Hong Kong reporters write to PNoy, Chun-Ying

The HKJA has also written an open letter to Aquino, Chun-Ying and APEC Summit 2013 chair Wishnu Wardhana expressing anger over the accusation that the Hong Kong reporters posed a security threat at the event.

"We are angry with such absurd and vicious accusation.  It is completely an attempt to discredit the integrity of Hong Kong reporters," the HKJA said.

Saying it the media's duty to ask questions of public concern, the HKJA explained that the Hong Kong public remains concerned with the 2010 hostage crisis "for which Manila has yet to provide a satisfactory explanation."

"The moves by the Philippines and Indonesian Authorities is nothing but a mean to gag foreign journalists from asking tough questions that is of public interest," the group said in a new statement. - Louis Bacani