Philippine authorities will send investigators to Hong Kong this week to collect statements from survivors of last week's tour bus hijacking.
The move comes as the authorities in Manila continue to wait for witness testimonies collected by Hong Kong police last week and as Hong Kong authorities were given permission to separately conduct ballistics tests and examine the bus in which eight Hongkongers were killed. A senior Philippine police officer said on Friday and again yesterday that they had sought statements from the survivors.
'So far, we have not received a response,' Manila police commander Leocadio Santiago said yesterday. 'It's very vital to completing the investigation.'
Last night, in response to a query about the visit by the Philippine investigators, the Security Bureau and Hong Kong police said in a joint statement: 'We have just received a formal request for information through a letter from the Philippine consul-general to the Security Bureau.
'The request will be handled in accordance with established protocol and practices. We do not envisage major problems in providing the co-operation.'
Security Bureau spokesmen could not be reached to specify exactly when Hong Kong received the request and when the city would respond to Manila. Police declined to comment further.
