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The Government has urged the Philippine authorities through various channels to facilitate the taking of evidence from witnesses to assist Hong Kong Coroner's inquest into the Manila hostage incident, a Government spokesman said today (March 17).
The Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, called the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today, to ask it to relay this strong request to the Philippine authorities.
The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Henry Tang, also called the Consul-General of the Philippines in Hong Kong, Mr Claro S Cristobal, today, urging the Philippine authorities to do its utmost to assist the Coroner's inquest.
Mr Cristobal told Mr Tang that the Philippine Department of Justice (DoJ) had approved the taking of evidence from another nine witnesses, comprising officials of the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation, by videolink facilities tomorrow. The Hong Kong DoJ received a letter to that effect from the Philippine DoJ this afternoon.
The Government spokesman hoped that the Philippine authorities would take all necessary actions to facilitate the taking of evidence by videolink tomorrow.
Ends/Thursday, March 17, 2011
Issued at HKT 19:48
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