3 hostage victims laid to rest in Hong Kong

HONG KONG, China – Three people who were killed during the August 23 hostage crisis in Manila were laid to rest in Hong Kong on Thursday.

It was a quiet memorial service for the late couple Wong Tze Lan and Yeng Yee Wa and their sister, Yeung Yee Kam.

Their close relatives and friends paid their last respects to victims, even as they appealed to media to allow their family to grieve in private.

“We appreciate the support every one has given us since the incident. Yet, we hope to just our families and friends attending the ceremony,” the victim’s relatives said in a statement.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang attended the ceremony.

The Wong couple’s 2 children, 15-year-old Tracey and 12-year-old Jason, survived the tragedy as they were freed by hostage-taker Rolando Mendoza.

Meanwhile, a team of investigators sent to Hong Kong by the Department of Justice and the National Bureau of Investigation continued to interview hostage survivors on Thursday.

The interviews seek to help Manila’s ongoing investigation into the incident.

The team led by DOJ assistant state prosecutor Cielito Celi has talked to 5 survivors thus far in the last 3 days.

Celi, National Bureau of Investigation agent Danielito Lalusis, and ballistics expert Perla Landicho earlier recovered the 3 cell phones used by Mendoza during the hostage incident.

The cell phones were accidentally turned over to Hong Kong police by their Filipino counterparts.

The investigative team will stay in the former Crown colony until Friday before returning home.


source abs cbn