Buddhist monks pray for Hong Kong bus victims ahead of anniversary
- 10 years ago
Buddhist monks from Hong Kong offered prayers at the site of a 2010 hostage-taking incident in Manila on Saturday (August 9).
Eight Hong Kong tourists died in the Philippines capital after a sacked policeman hijacked a tourist bus, an incident which led to a botched rescue attempt by the local authorities, killing the gunman and the victims in the process.
Twenty eight Buddhist monks, who were invited by Manila as a sign of goodwill to repair strained ties between the two cities, conducted a ritual and chanted prayers at Rizal Park for the souls of the victims.
The Manila City government has declared both August 9, which coincides with the Chinese lunar calendar, and the anniversary on August 23 as "Days of Prayer" in respect to the hostage tragedy nearly four years ago.
Relations between the Philippines and Hong Kong have eased up after Manila's city government offered an apology, compensation and justice for the victims in April, settling a lengthy diplomatic
Eight Hong Kong tourists died in the Philippines capital after a sacked policeman hijacked a tourist bus, an incident which led to a botched rescue attempt by the local authorities, killing the gunman and the victims in the process.
Twenty eight Buddhist monks, who were invited by Manila as a sign of goodwill to repair strained ties between the two cities, conducted a ritual and chanted prayers at Rizal Park for the souls of the victims.
The Manila City government has declared both August 9, which coincides with the Chinese lunar calendar, and the anniversary on August 23 as "Days of Prayer" in respect to the hostage tragedy nearly four years ago.
Relations between the Philippines and Hong Kong have eased up after Manila's city government offered an apology, compensation and justice for the victims in April, settling a lengthy diplomatic