Almendras: Talks on HK hostage crisis tough

Cabinet Secretary Rene Almendras reveals ending the rift between Hong Kong and the Philippines over the 2010 hostage crisis took a long and arduous process. He says efforts started last year during the APEC summit in Bali, Indonesia, where he was tasked to mediate between the two parities. He says the negotiations took seven months. Almendras explains they decided to keep the talks confidential due to the sensitivity of the matter. Hong Kong has lifted its travel ban to the Philippines and brought back the visa-free access of Philippine officials. Almendras notes that during their recent trip, Hong Kong Chief Executive Cy Leung was satisfied with the solutions they presented. But Almendras says it was not easy to get families to attend the meeting as emotions continue to run high. Almendras adds not all families will be accepting the token of solidarity offered by the Philippine government because no amount of money can compensate for the loss of human lives. --ANC Dateline Philippines, April 24, 2014