How did the Manila hostage crisis affect the relationships between the Philippine government and the governments of the victims' homeland?
The Manila hostage crisis was met with mixed reactions from
mainland Chinese consuls and authorities. The Hong Kong government,
though "shocked and appalled", wanted a peaceful resolution of the
investigation. The Chinese government demanded an explanation.
The Philippine government requested a conference with both the
Chinese and the Hong Kong government on August 27. Both requests
were rejected. Relationships between the Hong Kong and the Filipino
government have remained stressed and with high tension. The
mainland Chinese embassy became enraged after discovering about the
Mendoza family's intentions of placing the flag of the Philippines
over the coffin of the perpetrator, Rolando Mendoza. The Hong Kong
government later condemned the Manila Police Department and the
Filipino government for acting poorly on the situation.
The Canadian government also mourned the loss of the Leungs, the
Canadian-Chinese family who suffered with the death of three family
members.
The British Embassy Manila also lowered all Union Jack flags to
half-mast in respect to the former-Crown Colony. They also accused
Mendoza for taking the lives of innocent tourists in an attempt to
redress a professional grievance.
On August 24, the day after the crisis, the Hong Kong government
ordered all official locations with Hong Kong and mainland Chinese
flags to be lowered to half-mast as condolences to the losses. The
Hong Kong Stock Exchange center also observed a minute's moment of
silence to pay respect to the killed.
Relations between Hong Kong and the Philippines have begn
deteriorating quickly as investigations of the incident prove to be
less than helpful.