Hostage victims offered up to HK$1 mln insurance claims
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A maximum of one million HK dollars insurance claims for each victim in the hostages crisis in Manila will be allocated as soon as possible, said an insurance company representative Tuesday in a press conference held by Hong Thai travel agency, organizer of the hijacked tour group.
Tour members who lost their lives will be offered one million HK dollars each by the insurance company according to the highest standard, as well as a gratuity of 20,000 HK dollars by the Hong Kong government, said the representative whose family name is Wang.
As for the injured, the highest amount of insurance benefits for medical care will be one million HK dollars, said he, adding that those who suffer from post-crisis trauma and in need of psychological treatments will be considered giving 100,000 HK dollars in the next six months.
Lau Mei-sze, manager of Hong Thai, said that most of the tour members had bought insurance through the travel agency if not on their own. The group leader who informed the agency of the crisis before being killed in the bus was also covered by insurance.
Lau gave high praise of the 31-year-old group leader, saying his phone call was crucial for them to follow up the situation at the first time. She said the agency set up a special column for him on the front page of their website, allowing colleges and the public to pay tributes.
According to Wang, four of his colleges, together with government officers and people from the Hong Thai are now in Manila handling the problem after the incident.
In his latest speech to reporters, Chief Executive Donald Tsang said he has spoken with the Philippines' foreign minister and demanded a full account of the Manila hostage tragedy.
Tsang stressed the government's first priority is to look after the injured and the families of the dead, in Manila and in Hong Kong.
The government are making separate arrangements in Hong Kong to enable Hong Kong people to express their sorrow through the Internet and at various sites of the Home Affairs Department. Details of these arrangements will be announced later, said Tsang.
A charter flight has been arranged for this evening, to allow survivors who can leave hospital to return to Hong Kong. It will also carry Hong Kong people who are in the Philippines on other tour groups who want to come back.
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