HONG Kong said yesterday it is disappointed by the Philippine leader's decision to spare top officials from criminalprosecution over the botched attempt to resolve a bus hijacking in Manila in which eight Hong Kong tourists died.

Philippines President Benigno Aquino III said on Monday the police chief, mayor and five other officials instead would face administrative actions, with possible sanctions including dismissal.

"The people of Hong Kong, especially the survivors and the victims' families, will find this hard to accept. The Hong Kong government is also disappointed," the government said in a statement.

The August 23 hijacking by a former police officer seeking reinstatement lasted 11 tense hours before the gunman opened fire on his hostages. A police SWAT team took out the hostage-taker, but not before eight tourists were killed.

The bloody events, televised live, shocked Hong Kong, where violent crime is rare, and damaged relations between the Philippines and China.

The punishment against the Philippine officials who oversaw the rescue operation must live up to Manila's pledge of accountability, Hong Kong said.

"That is also what is owed to the dead and the injured," the government said.

The Hong Kong police are also conducting their own investigation and will submit their findings to a local judge, who will then decide whether to hold a formalhearing.

• yesterday [´jestədi] n.&ad.昨天；前不久 (初中英语单词)
• criminal [´kriminəl] a.犯罪的 n.罪犯 (初中英语单词)
• resolve [ri´zɔlv] v.决心 n.决心；刚毅 (初中英语单词)
• bloody [´blʌdi] a.(流)血的；血腥的 (初中英语单词)
• violent [´vaiələnt] a.强暴的；猛烈的 (初中英语单词)
• punishment [´pʌniʃmənt] n.罚，刑罚 (初中英语单词)
• rescue [´reskju:] vt.&n.救援；挽救 (初中英语单词)
• pledge [pledʒ] n.信物；誓约vt.使发誓 (初中英语单词)
• investigation [in,vesti´geiʃən] n.调查(研究) (初中英语单词)
• submit [səb´mit] vt.使服从；使忍受 (初中英语单词)
• formal [´fɔ:məl] a.正式的；外表的 (初中英语单词)
• philippines [´filipi:nz] n.菲律宾 (高中英语单词)
• hearing [´hiəriŋ] n.听力；听证会；审讯 (高中英语单词)
• administrative [əd´ministrətiv] a.管理的，行政的 (英语四级单词)
• prosecution [,prɔsi´kju:ʃən] n.彻底实行；检举 (英语六级单词)
• august [ɔ:´gʌst] a.尊严的；威严的 (英语六级单词)