An overdue end

Updated: 2014-04-24 05:50

By Staff Writer(HK Edition)

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An overdue end

May the resolution of the Manila bus hostage crisis put an end to the ordeal that has haunted Hong Kong people for more than three years!

Hopefully, the deceased will now rest in peace; the survivors will continue to lead a normal life; and those who have lost their beloved ones in the tragedy will find much needed solace.

The settlement will also afford Hong Kong and the Philippines a chance to restore their once close relationship, underpinned by the large Filipino community here in this city as well as the strong bilateral trade.

Much of the credit should go to the rationality and pragmatism on the part of the victims, as demonstrated by their representative Tse Chi-kin who resisted quibbling over the wording of the agreement.

Of course, the HKSAR Government should also be cited for its unremitting efforts in negotiating for an acceptable solution to this ongoing crisis, in spite of the difficulties it has encountered in dealing with a foreign country in the capacity of a city.

Undoubtedly, Beijing's appeal on Tuesday to the Philippine government to "seriously respond to the Hong Kong government and to the legitimate and lawful demands of the relatives of the victims" certainly reinforced the victims' case.

It wasn't the first time the central government has made its positions known to the Philippine authorities at the highest level as befits the issue which has foreign relations implications.

The Manila municipal government, led by Mayor Joseph Estrada, is also believed to have made a great effort in working out an acceptable solution. It is the Manila municipal government, rather than its national government, that has led the initiatives and efforts in seeking a settlement.

The ordeal could have ended much sooner had the Philippine government recognized that there is a need to attend to the sentiments of Hong Kong people, particularly that of the victims and their relatives, instead of putting too much emphasis on diplomatic protocol and etiquette and legalistic niceties.

With the Philippine government having reiterated its assurance over the safety of tourists in the country, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying promptly announced Hong Kong's lifting of its highest travel alert for travel to the Philippines. It is hoped that the Philippine government will make good its latest assurances.

(HK Edition 04/24/2014 page9)