'Time to move on'

HONG KONG – A survivor of the tragic Manila hostage-taking incident has apparently accepted the fate that had changed her life forever and encouraged those around her to move on.

Amy Ng Leung Yau-woon – survivor of the hostage tragedy that claimed the lives of her husband Ken Leung Kam-wing, 58, and daughters Doris Leung Chung-see, 21, and Jessie Leung Song-yi, 14, – thanked everyone who has shown her love and compassion and told everyone to move on.

Her son, Jason Leung Song-xue, 19, who suffered a serious head injury, is still fighting for his life at the Tuen Mun Hospital.

Mrs. Leung’s pre-recorded message in Chinese was aired during the memorial service the other night for Jessie at the David Li Kwok Po College in Mong Kok.

“Mrs. Leung thanks everybody for the love and care that they have shown. But she is also saying that it is time to move on. Mrs. Leung is a remarkable woman,” Nicholas Puiu, school principal, said in an interview.

“Mrs. Leung is filled with peace and love. And she is very concerned about the people of Hong Kong, and our students. She has asked them, our students, to get back to normal after tonight, to concentrate on their studies and get back to life. Mrs. Leung is a woman without any hate,” he added.

What could have been a normal opening of classes last Sept. 1 at the David Li Kwok Po College was marked by the tragic death of Jessie who would have been in Form 3 (third year high school).

The school playground stood as a remembrance for the youngest Manila hostage victim.

Students wrote prayers for the eternal peace of Jessie, while others shared encouraging messages for Mrs. Leung and Jason to continue fighting for their lives.

The school also includes a number of Filipino students. Puiu explained that Filipinos are not to be blamed for the hostage tragedy.

“We or Mrs. Leung doesn’t distinguish between Filipinos and non-Filipinos. Mrs. Leung’s and our message here tonight is one of love and compassion. The school’s standpoint is that we are not looking at blame,” he said.

Following the tragedy that claimed the lives of eight Hong Kong tourists in Manila, including their schoolmate Jessie, two Filipino students expressed confidence that they will not be discriminated or hated by Chinese students.

“My classmates are all respectful. No one discriminates Filipinos. There’s no hatred because in our school we are like a family. We are safe here,” said JR Cruz.

Monica Toledo said that while all of them felt sad about Jessie’s death at a young age, they would remember their schoolmate’s cheerfulness to be able to move on.

“We will remember her as a cheerful person. I don’t think she would want us to be mourning. She would want us to always smile,” she said.

The memorial service gathered around 400 students, parents and teachers to “celebrate the life of Jessie.”

The school presented a slide show of Jessie’s photos with her friends during their school picnic. While Jessie’s photos were showed on screen, students rendered songs, which they wrote for their slain schoolmate.

HK police conducting own investigation

Meanwhile, Hong Kong police will study bullets test fired from guns used by the hostage taker.

Two police officers from Hong Kong on Thursday brought back spent shells after test firing Mendoza’s weapons, an M16 assault rifle and .45 caliber pistol, the city’s media reported.

The officers were held up at the airport in Manila on Thursday on doubts over whether they had clearance to take the bullets and casings out of the country.

“Mr. Li Kwai-wah, chief inspector from Hong Kong, was actually authorized to bring those shells with him to Hong Kong. They have a clearance from the Philippine National Police,” Justice Undersecretary Jose Vicente Salazar said Thursday. “It was just that, at this time, all those items related to the (bus hijack) investigation being brought out must be cleared by the Department of Justice.”

Salazar added that the police officers were later granted clearance to take the bullets to Hong Kong.

“In fact the (Chinese) police attaché admitted that they failed to obtain (justice department) clearance,” he said.

Police in the Chinese territory declined to say why the bullets and casings had been brought back to Hong Kong or discuss their probe.

“(We) are now actively investigating the case. Since the police will prepare and submit a death report to the coroner, it is not appropriate for the police to release any detailed information about the investigation to the media at this stage,” the Hong Kong authorities said in a statement.


source phil star