Noy, HK exec meet at APEC

BALI – There was still no apology, but President Aquino and Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying found time to discuss the botched hostage rescue operation in Manila that left eight Hong Kong tourists dead in 2010.

The President said he again expressed the country’s regret and sincere condolences to the families of the victims during the meeting with Leung on the sidelines of the 21st Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit here on Monday.

“The topic was the hostage crisis. Of course, it’s about their perspective as against ours. I think there has been a clarification as to what each side has been doing,” the President told Manila-based newsmen at the Nusa Dua Beach Hotel here, where he was billeted.

The President said he told Leung that “we cannot admit wrongdoing if it’s not ours.”

He said he also told the Hong Kong leader that the Philippine government is not at fault because a lone gunman was responsible for the tragedy.

“Again, we expressed our deepest regret that it’s so contrary to how we treat visitors in our country,” he added.

Aquino said the discussion focused on “why the perception of each side is such,” and this has somehow been addressed.

“I got the sense that they really were sincere in trying to come to a solution to that incident,” he said. “We are all sincerely trying to come to a solution to that.”

The meeting between the two officials came as APEC host Indonesia revoked the accreditation of Hong Kong journalists at the summit for heckling Aquino.

Asked whether Leung accepted his expression of regret, Aquino said: “More or less. I think he mentioned something like ‘we recognize that in your culture personal faults is what you apologize for’.”

Not enough

However, Leung gave a less positive assessment of the talks.

“The Philippine side, at the beginning, took the position that the matter has been resolved. I did not agree,” he told Hong Kong reporters in Bali.

“I believe, and I made the case to the Philippine side, that this matter, unless it is resolved properly, will continue to stand in the way in the normal relationships between Hong Kong and the Philippines.”

Hong Kong has long demanded a formal apology plus compensation for the relatives of the victims and for the injured.

Sources confirmed to The STAR that compensation had been given through a non-government group.

In August, survivors and relatives of the dead sued the Philippine government in a Hong Kong court to demand compensation and an official apology.

The Hong Kong government also continues to warn its residents against traveling to the Philippines.

No curtailment of press freedom

Aquino said he agrees with the decision of the APEC host, adding there was no curtailment of press freedom.  - With Pia Lee-Brago