Progress continues on hostage incident: CE

October 29, 2013

Progress has been made on the Manila hostage-taking incident, and Legislative Councillor James To will meet with the Philippine side on behalf of victims and bereaved families, Chief Executive CY Leung says.
 
Speaking to reporters today before attending an Executive Council meeting, Mr Leung said the Government has followed up on the incident since he met Philippine President Benigno Aquino in Bali, and the Central Government has been supportive of the Hong Kong Government’s work.
 
He said this step took three years to achieve, showing the incident's complexity and difficulty. Mr Leung said he respected victims’ and bereaved families’ opinions and decisions, and said he hoped people could let them make decisions they consider appropriate.
 
When asked about free TV licences, Mr Leung said the Government follows an established system, whether there is a judicial review or not. He stressed the system's importance, and said the Government should not change it because of an isolated case.
 
The Executive Council adopts the principles of confidentiality and collective responsibility, he said, such that it announces its decisions but does not disclose details. The Government has explained as far as possible the criteria and reasoning behind the TV licence decision, he added.
 
The two approved-in-principle applicants can start broadcasting several months after obtaining the licence, he said, bringing more choice to the public.