HONG KONG - LURID photographs of the bloodbath dominated the front pages of the Hong Kong press on Tuesday, with a few Chinese-language newspapers changing their mast-head colour from red to black in mourning.
Editorials echoed the southern Chinese territory's leader in querying the response of Philippine authorities. 'The way it is handled - particularly the outcome - is very disappointing,' Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang told reporters late on Monday.
Newspapers bemoaned missed opportunities to end the siege much earlier, including when the gunman - a disgraced former senior police inspector - had waved from the bus door.
'A large group of police failed to get into the bus after surrounding the vehicle for nearly half an hour,' the Hong Kong Economic Journal said, adding: 'Their appalling professional standards, and the lack of strategic planning, made observers both angry and sad. This tragedy could have been avoided'.
Also noting the length of time it took Manila police commandos to intervene, the Apple Daily said: 'It makes people question the competence of the police.' The Standard said Philippine authorities must be held to account. 'What went so terribly wrong?' the English-language daily said.
'What did the gunman tell police during the negotiations? What was the response from the police? The Hong Kong government must also demand that Manila provide answers for the many questions'. -- AFP
