China Chronicle: Dog Day Afternoon

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          In an attempt to seek out the truth about the murder escapade in Philippine that let to the death of eight HK tourists last year. HK government reopens the old wound  and starts an Inquest this month summoning eye witnesses and panel of experts from both countries to testify. The focal point is not to pinpointing who bears the burden of guilt nor it addresses to the issue on any faulty party. It is only a fact findings endeavor.
 
         Apart from the fact findings, the court hopes to shed some lights to ensure that the kind of catastrophe would never reoccur in the future. 
The killing rampant has drawn world wide attention. It brought to the world awareness on the safety of tourists when visited foreign lands. 
 
        Shortly after, I wrote an article tried to come up with some sense in the aftermath of this unfortunate incident. They are as follows. 

Subject:  Dog Day Afternoon
 
         It was indeed a very sad day for HK people. The stampede of Philippine gunman that took hostage of HK tourists ended tragically in eight people dead. A retrenchment of steps let some jumped to the conclusion that the episode could have been averted if not for the indecisiveness and opportunists lost on the negotiation processes by the authority. They could even have captured the gunmen prior to the rampage.

 
           In the aftermath, Philippine authority should seek remedies on her inadequate policies in dealing with terrorists. It is vital for them to take tourists safety at heart at all time of the hour and start implement better procedures when confront with similar crisis situation in the future.
 
           As for the tourist agency involved, they should also hold responsibilities and accountable on the recent unfortunate incident. They had taken tourists safety for granted of too many good years. The recent episode served as a wake up call for them. Many tourist guides have excellent training in protection tourist property and ignorance in knowledge when tourist safety is concerned. From many of my past experience on tours, they always supplied you with helpful tips in protecting personal belongings. But when time to be on abroad to the coach vehicle, the guide was never present at the door checking on unfamiliar faces and opened up floodgate for any stranger slipped in unnoticed until they did the head count later on. As unfortunate as it sounded, the latest saga could have rewritten if the gunman was caught red handed before entering in the vehicle unauthorized.
 
           Lastly, but not the least is for tourists themselves should never comprise safety issues while enjoying sightseeing. Most important is, always on the outlook of suspicious characters or unusual activities and be in the alertness of your surroundings at all time.
 
           Consequently, traveling could be entreating and joyful experience if you take some small steps of
precaution.  
 
                                            From Simon reported at Shenzhen

Picture from tupian.hudong.com.