Hong Kong warns citizens against Philippines travel

Hong Kong has expressed angry shock at the Philippines after the deaths of eight of its tourists in a bus hijack, cancelling all travel to the country. The Chinese government has also demanded a thorough investigation of how the tragedy was handled. Philippine President Benigno Aquino has promised to provide answers. Questions have been raised over how police failed to enter the bus before eight tourists were shot by a rogue policeman. The police commander in the Philippine capital of Manila, Leocadio Santiago, has defended the way his force dealt with the hostage-taking. He told local television that it had been correct to let the siege continue until the bus driver escaped and reported that the hijacker had started shooting hostages. Police then assaulted the bus, killing the hijacker, a disgruntled former policeman called Rolando Mendoza.