選美大國

康泰旅行團馬尼拉慘案連日電子及平面傳媒報導不絕，也沒有特別好說的餘地，當本地，內地，台灣……各大小報章以「城殤」作頭條，專題之際，發生慘劇的馬尼拉……在香港機場 LOUNGE準備飛台北匆匆瞄到一份當地大報〈 MANILA BULLETIN〉 8月 24號頭條新聞……旅遊車射殺事件在下半部，上半部你道是啥新聞？環球小姐在佛羅里達選舉；菲律賓小姐打入前十名，燦爛笑容一眾小姐華衣美服佔去頭版上半部。

當馬尼拉其中一頁最不光彩歷史場面誕生，當地媒體竟然以完全反差的堆砌選美風光叫不幸死者及其家屬親友與世上施以難過同情萬千計人士傷口灑鹽？

本來認為不幸事件發生是天嫁橫禍只嘆一聲不幸。那是兇手一人的事跟菲律賓，馬尼拉及她們的人民無關，更不應將矛頭指向居港菲傭。但看過〈 MANILA BULLETIN〉的頭版選美會照片後，嘆息這個以選美活動為榮，以曾經做過美國殖民地身份比其他亞洲人高一等為榮的國度着實可恨！

行船走馬三分險，出門旅行尤其一些治安不佳的地段不是沒有叫人擔心之處，除了非洲一些國家，世上最讓旅者忐忑不安似乎都發生在前西班牙葡萄牙殖民地所在。大部份中南美洲加上一個菲律賓，猶幸澳門免役（回歸前也有點治安跡象移向她的中南美夥伴。）剛巧這些無論如何努力前進的國家地區都淪為治安最難放心的國度，同時亦為足球與音樂一流，選美風氣最盛的沸沸揚揚國。可是一類醉生夢死？反正風氣污染，出人頭地困難甚至無望；如不投身日踢夜踢的足球或展示肉體的選美只好鋌而走險殺人放火販毒，警民同心同德一起烏煙瘴氣。
(鄧達智)

利字當頭：沒有聯滙更糟糕

前幾天，左丁山前輩和青姐在專欄不約而同談到香港樓價泡沫的問題；英雄所見略同，他們都將矛頭直指聯繫滙率。世民不敢說他們的觀點有甚麼不對。畢竟，那是經濟學的 ABC，兩位高手的說法更加是經濟學課本的標準答案。可是，如果單單因為樓價貴便要廢除這個行之有效的機制，恐怕最終結果會更糟糕。事實上聯滙存在 27年，對香港功勞遠比大家所見更深。將港元升值　非人人受惠「穩定嘛！當年香港有前途問題，人人都不信港紙，當然要聯滙。可是，今天香港已經沒有前途問題，而且背靠祖國……（刪三千字）人民幣也快要成為世界第三大貨幣，聯滙這過渡期產品，應該要廢除。」以上這段話，不是甚麼人所講，卻是大家都似曾相識的讀白。世民稱這種觀點做「貨幣實用主義」。貨幣實用主義，就是認為只要拿揑得好，可以透過調節貨幣供應，令到社會上人人生活愉快，美滿幸福。可惜，這種想法最大的矛盾，就是沒有明白到，一樣米養百樣人。沒有樓的，當然會覺得上車艱難，可是，為了讓他們成為業主，便去將港元升值，結果真的是人人受惠嗎？如果由聯滙變成自由浮動，那還可以說得過去；可是要是人為地將港元升值，那麼政府便要問責了。先撇開那些因為樓價下跌而引發的骨牌效應，那些因港元升值而盈利不保的人，又可以怎樣呢？將滙率拉上補下，是一種零和遊戲，有人歡喜自然有人愁。難道，政府又成立一個甚麼基金，去補償因港元升值而受損失的人嗎？過去 20多年，雖然香港的物價比較顛簸，但總體環境還算可以。貨幣宏觀調控，搞得不好破壞力可以很大，你會願意將這工具交給朝三暮四的特區政府嗎？

Charles Shoebridge: Ten things the Philippines bus siege police got wrong

A security analyst who has worked in counter-terrorism with the British Army and Scotland Yard, Charles Shoebridge, says the officers involved in Manila's bus siege showed great courage - but they were not properly trained or equipped for the task.

Here are 10 areas where, in his view, they could have done better.

1. Determination

The first officers who tried to storm the bus were driven out by gunshots from the hostage taker, former policeman Rolando Mendoza. "They showed great courage to go on board. It's very crowded, just one aisle down the middle of the bus. But once you get on board it's not unexpected you are going to be fired at. Squads like this have to be made up of very special people, specially trained and selected for their characteristics of courage, determination and aggression. In this case they acted as 99% of the population would have, which was to turn round and get out. They didn't seem to have the necessary determination and aggression to follow the attack through."

2. Lack of equipment

The police spent a long time smashing the windows of the bus, whereas explosive charges (known as frame charges) would have knocked in windows and doors instantly. "They had no ladders to get through the windows. They smashed the windows but didn't know what to do next," Mr Shoebridge says. "They almost looked like a group of vandals." Their firearms were also inappropriate - some had pistols, some had assault rifles. Ideally they would have carried a short submachine gun, suitable for use in confined spaces.

3. Lost opportunity to disarm the gunman

Mendoza's gun was not always raisedThere were numerous opportunities to restrain the gunman, Mr Shoebridge believes. "The negotiators were so close to him, and he had his weapon hanging down by his side. He could have been disabled without having to kill him."

4. Lost opportunity to shoot the gunman

The video of the drama also shows there were occasions when the gunman was standing alone, during the course of the day, and could have been shot by a sharpshooter. "You are dealing with an unpredictable and irrational individual. The rule should be that if in the course of negotiations an opportunity arises to end the situation decisively, it should be taken," Mr Shoebridge says. Either this possibility did not occur to the officers in charge, he adds, or they considered it and decided to carry on talking.

5. Satisfying the gunman's demands

"I wondered why the authorities just didn't give in to all of his demands," says Charles Shoebridge. "A promise extracted under force is not a promise that you are required to honour. Nobody wants to give in to the demands of terrorists, but in a situation like this, which did not involve a terrorist group, or release of prisoners, they could have just accepted his demands. He could be reinstated in the police - and then be immediately put in prison for life for hostage taking." The Philippines authorities did in fact give in to the gunman's demands, but too little, too late. One message promised to review his case, while he wanted it formally dismissed. A second message reinstating him as a police offer only arrived after the shooting had started.

6. Televised proceedings

The gunman was able to follow events on television, revealing to him everything that was going on around him. This was a "crucial defect in the police handling", Mr Shoebridge says. He adds that police should always consider putting a barrier or screen around the area, to shield the scene from the cameras and keep the hostage taker in the dark.

7. No element of surprise

It was clear to the gunman what the police were doing at all times, not only because the whole incident was televised, but also because they moved "laboriously slowly", Mr Shoebridge says. The police did not distract him, so were unable to exploit the "crucial element of surprise".

8. Safeguarding the public

This boy, a bystander, was hit by a stray bulletAt least one bystander was shot, possibly because the public was allowed too close. The bullet from an M16 rifle, as carried by the gunman, can travel for about a mile, so preventing any risk of injury would have been difficult, Mr Shoebridge says, but a lot more could have been done. "When you saw the camera view from above, it was clear there was little command and control of the public on the ground," he says.

9. Using the gunman's brother to negotiate

Relatives and close friends can be a double-edged sword, Mr Shoebridge says. While they may have leverage over the hostage taker, what they are saying cannot be easily controlled. In this case, the gunman's brother was included in the negotiations - however, at a certain stage he became agitated and police started to remove him from the scene. The gunman saw this on television, and became agitated himself. According to one report he fired a warning shot.

10. Insufficient training

In some parts of the Philippines, such as Mindanao, hostage taking is not an uncommon occurrence, so the country has some forces that are well trained in the necessary tactics. The detachment involved in Monday's incident clearly was not, says Mr Shoebridge. After smashing the windows, one of the officers eventually put some CS gas inside, though "to what effect was not clear" he says. A unit involved in this work, needs to be "trained again and again, repeatedly practising precisely this kind of scenario," he says.

BBC論壇：菲律賓港人劫持事件

馬尼拉慘劇成為了香港歷來最慘重的境外旅遊事故。

香港康泰旅行社一行21人在菲律賓首都馬尼拉遭遇劫持，最終以八死七傷告終。這起事件在香港造成的震撼也許比2008年四川特大地震還要嚴重。
一夜之間，Facebook上許多香港人把頭像換掉，不是純黑色方塊，就是黑絲帶。
香港電視媒體從劫持事件開始就不斷越洋直播現場情況，尤其是當最終解救完成，死傷數字開始公布的時候，義憤之言也在網絡上不斷湧現。
星期一（8月23日）深夜，兩眼通紅的曾蔭權公布了下半旗致哀的決定。香港罕有的出現特區區旗下半旗，但中國國旗高高飄揚的場面。
網上很快就出現了一些呼籲港人星期二（8月24日）穿素服以示哀悼的留言與群組，響應者數以千計。
在過去的24小時內，香港人形成了一種只屬於香港人的團結，但同時也形成了一股讓人憂慮的氣氛。
一致批評 : 香港媒體對於這次菲律賓警方的營救手段與效率，幾乎是一致進行了批評。

不同團體紛紛到菲律賓總領事館表達不滿。
《蘋果日報》除了大字標題批評「菲警遲鈍害命」外，還引述香港城市大學犯罪學家黃成榮評論說，菲律賓當局使用了「低水平的談判策略」，「間接將人質」害死。
《明報》的社評說，「這宗動機相對單純的槍手挾持人質事件，最終以極度血腥的手段解決」，菲律賓政府應當開展全面調查，「向港人交代」。
Now寬頻電視新聞台甚至引述香港退休高級警官說，這次菲律賓警方的表現是「警察的恥辱」。
生還者「梁太太」在媒體與京港官員代表面前公開斥責菲律賓政府反應遲鈍，更讓香港人的怒氣冒升。除了網上的留言，幾個政團星期二更先後到菲律賓駐香港總領事館抗議。
從電視、電台政論節目到香港民眾在網上的留言，要求中國政府出面交涉的聲音不絕於耳。北京當局也已經在劫持事件發生之初採取了高度介入態度，與菲方進行交涉。
2008年泰國反政府示威者佔領曼谷機場事件時，香港政府曾被批評為兩岸四地應變能力最差。
馬尼拉慘劇發生後，雖然批評曾蔭權政府反應欠佳的評論也在互聯網上出現，但是相比於批評阿基諾領導的菲律賓政府而言，可算是少數。

「排菲」情緒？
香港人在短短24小時內形成了團結的面貌，但是同樣教人擔憂的是，這起事件已經引起了一些香港人的「排菲」情緒。
港府設法疏導港人悲憤情緒，成效有待觀察。
香港有將近20萬菲律賓人從事家庭佣工行業，這個群體無論對於香港還是菲律賓來說都很重要。從阿羅約夫人到阿基諾，在競選菲律賓總統時，都要來香港進行拉票。
馬尼拉與香港當局都注意到「排菲」危機的存在。香港保安局局長李少光公開呼籲市民冷靜，不要針對「菲佣」，據稱說話時還語帶哽咽。
菲律賓總統府也有幕僚透過媒體向香港民眾喊話，促請港人不要找菲律賓的「普通百姓」來出氣；阿基諾總統在會見中國大使劉建超等代表後，決定派遣副總統與外長親赴香港呈交調查報告。
而面對這次突如其來的情感重擊，港府除了呼籲情緒受到困擾的民眾向各輔導機構求助，還在全港多處設立了吊唁處，甚至開立了facebook的吊唁網頁。
可能產生的「仇菲」情緒能否得到及時疏導尚待觀察，但是幾乎可以肯定的是，喜歡到菲律賓享受陽光與海灘的香港人，在接下來一段相當的時間內，將對這個千島之國敬而遠之。

美國釘子戶的故事

中國近年各地不斷發生強行拆遷事故，被強拆者到北京上訪、自焚、自製燃燒彈等情節頻頻發生。以下是一個美國釘子戶的真實故事，可與中國的拆遷相對照。西雅圖有個老太太，叫 Edith Macefield， 1966年買下一個兩層樓的房子。 2007年，開發商計劃在那地帶建造商業樓，徵地拆遷進行順利。但到了老太太這裏，卡住了。老太太的房子比她更老， 108歲了。老太太已經在這個設備齊全的舒適居處住了 40餘年，對一切都很有感情了，不願搬離。開發商一次又一次地提高賠償金額，最高達到 100萬美元，超過市值好幾倍。根據市值，老太太的房子的地皮值 12萬，房子值 8千。老太太不為所動。《西雅圖時報》採訪她。她說，「我不想搬。我不需要錢。錢並不意味着一切。」開發商無可奈何，只得修改圖紙，商業大樓忍痛挖掉了老太太的這一塊地方。開發商絕對不可能像中國那樣動用推土機強行拆除，只能繞着走。據報導，老太從小就很固執，開發商好像很理解這種固執。工程項目的最高總監巴里．馬丁甚至關心起老太太的生活。老太太孤身一人，唯一的兒子早在 13歲時就死於腦膜炎。人們也不知道她已去世的丈夫的情況。她很堅決地擋回此類問題：「不要問」。馬丁得知老太太行走不便，就開車送她去做頭髮，看病。他確保她有食品，去為她買雜貨，為她去拿處方藥，為她做晚飯。開工了，他對工人說，要像對外婆一樣對待她。2008年 6月 15日， 86歲的老太太因胰腺癌離開人世。那一天，那房子依然是她的房子。媒體披露了她的遺囑：她將房子遺贈給了馬丁，以感謝他在開工期間對她體現出來的友誼。

(李怡)

菲警無能

菲律賓首都馬尼拉媒體報道說，又有一名在當地遭劫持的香港遊客因傷勢過重在醫院死亡。
馬尼拉一家電台報道稱，一位名叫Doris的女遊客星期二（8月24日）清晨死亡。
至此，這次震驚世界的遊客劫持事件已經造成九名香港遊客死亡。
香港政府機構星期二下半旗對遇難者致哀，香港證券交易所在當日開盤前也為遇難者默哀。
香港政府和中國政府都對有關事件作出強烈譴責，並要求菲律賓政府作解釋。
菲律賓總統阿基諾三世承諾將對有關事件進行徹底的調查。
不過阿基諾總統為菲律賓警察的行動作出辯護。

承認過失
而在此事件中廣受批評的菲律賓警方星期二表示，認為他們對劫持事件的處理程序沒有問題，但是承認在具體手法上存在過失。
有批評認為警方放任劫持者挾持人質長達近11小時的做法是錯誤的，但馬尼拉警察總監對此作出辯護。
他說警方一直以為曾擔任菲律賓警務處前高級督察的門多薩（Rolando Mendoza）仍有理智心態，因此希望通過談判解決問題。
他承認警方在具體戰術上可能有過失，並說將針對具體問題展開調查。
55歲的門多薩曾在菲律賓警務部門服役近30年，但在今年早些時候因勒索等指稱被免職，他劫持人質的目的就是希望強迫警方讓他官復原職。
他在星期一上午10時許於馬尼拉市中心劫持了這輛載有22名香港人和三名菲律賓人的香港康泰旅行社旅遊巴士。
劫持事件持續了近11小時，期間門多薩先後釋放了包括三名兒童在內的九名人質。

覆佢個機

康泰旅遊巴在菲律賓被脅持事件，中國駐菲律賓大使館證實，至少四名人質死亡，六名生還人質中，三人輕傷、三人無恙。另外，有一人重傷，四人情況不明，特區政府稍後派包機出發善後。脅持事件至晚上出現重大突破，大批持槍特警包圍並一度攻入車廂，又用鐵鎚打爛巴士玻璃，企圖拯救人質。最後，槍手被擊斃

CMG,菲律賓無Sniper咖，連記者都影到個癲佬咁大塊面，仲要好幾次，一槍就應該KO佢，令到兩人客死異鄉。D警察仲走去打窗話俾佢聽我入嚟啦，好彩個條友唔係赤柬，如果唔係，全車都死晒，阿基諾三世你聽日洗乾淨你個八月十五，預左開花。RIP 兩位團友，最新消息：四名人質死亡