On the evening of August 23, 2010, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi called Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Donald Tsang on the hijacking of Hong Kong tourists in Manila, the Philippines. Yang said that the central government attaches great importance to the incident and requires the Philippine side to try its best to launch rescue under the precondition of ensuring safety of the hostages. After some hostages were injured and died, the Chinese side immediately called the Philippine foreign minister, requiring the Philippine side to try its best to rescue the injured, properly handle the aftermath, completely investigate the incident and report the latest development. We feel deeply grieved over the death of Hong Kong compatriots, share sincere sympathy with the families of the killed and strongly condemn the violence of the hijacker. The Foreign Ministry will send a working group to the Philippines soon to handle the aftermath together with the Chinese embassy in the Philippines and the working group of Hong Kong SAR government.

Tsang expressed deep grief over the injury and death of Hong Kong tourists and thanks to the central government. He noted that the Hong Kong SAR government will send a working group to the Philippines to closely coordinate with the Foreign Ministry's working group and the Chinese embassy in the Philippines to properly handle the aftermath.