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The Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, this morning (August 26) attended a ceremony at Golden Bauhinia Square to grieve for the eight Hong Kong citizens killed in a hostage incident in Manila.
Joined by members of the public, Mr Tsang led the principal officials in attending a flag-raising and a flag half-mast ceremony, and then observing three minutes of silence to mourn for the hostage victims.
Also attending the ceremony were the Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Mr Li Gang; the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the HKSAR, Mr Lu Xinhua; and the Vice Political Commissar of the People's Liberation Army Garrison Troops, Mr Rao Xinjian.
During the observance of the three-minute silence, government services except for emergency services and border control were suspended. Staff on duty observed three minutes of silence at their respective workplaces.
Following the advice of the State Council, the national flags displayed at all HKSAR Government offices and Central People's Government offices in the HKSAR are flown at half-mast today.
HKSAR flags at all HKSAR Government offices are flown at half-mast between August 24 and 26 as a token of mourning for the hostage victims.
Ends/Thursday, August 26, 2010
Issued at HKT 12:55
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