50,000 PARTICIPANTS IN HK EXPECT TO MARCH OVER MANILA HOSTAGE DEATHS

Chinese students studying in the Philippines pray after they offered flowers near the tourist bus which was hijacked by an ex-policeman and subsequently stormed by police in Manila, yesterday.

HONG KONG - Political parties from Hong Kong plan a protest march on Sunday over the deaths of eight of the city's residents in a Philippines bus siege. Organisers say they expect 50,000 participants.

• The rally is intended as an outlet for Hong Kong people grieving after the killings on the tour bus in Manila, said Andrew To, a Hong Kong district councilor and chairman of the League of Social Democrats, one of the organisers.
• Hong Kong people, by the tens of thousands, have been signing condolence books and posting on-line messages, some containing derogatory language, since a Philippine former police officer seized the bus with 25 people aboard August 23.
• Eight members of a Hong Kong tour group died in the siege that ended after police stormed the bus and killed the gun-wielding former officer.
• "I have to stress this is not against the Philippine people," To said. "The government should make a report on this issue and try to explain to the Hong Kong people how this could have happened."

Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang said he has asked Philippine President Benigno Aquino to probe into the incident "thoroughly and professionally," according to a statement on Saturday.
Hong Kong Police sent two officers to Manila to help with the investigation, Undersecretary for Security Lai Tung-kwok said in a separate release.

Source; AFP