China on Monday urged the Philippine government to properly handle the requests from family members of the eight Hong Kong residents who were killed during a botched police rescue in Manila in 2010, said foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying.

President Xi Jinping had ordered related authorities to follow up on the issue after talking with Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying on Sunday. Leung requested a meeting with Philippine President Benigno Aquino III during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting on the issue, but received no response.

"We urge the Philippine government to take concrete and effective measures and work out a proper solution as soon as possible. We support the Hong Kong SAR government in staying in close communication and coordination with the Philippine government on this issue."

A total of four journalists had their credentials confiscated when trying to interview Aquino, asking for an explanation for the belated resolution on Sunday afternoon, reported the China News Service.

"We deemed it improper for media to act that way, as they didn't talk normally but they were very demonstrative, like they were protesting," said Gatot Dewa Broto, the Indonesian communications ministry official in charge of the media center for APEC, reported AFP.

He added that the journalists could no longer access the center.

Sham Yee-lan, chairwoman of the Hong Kong Journalists' Association, said Aquino's administration has "yet to provide a satisfactory explanation" for the Manila bus tragedy.

A total of eight Hong Kong tourists were killed and seven injured in a bungled police rescue on August 23, 2010, when a sacked Philippine police officer hijacked a bus with 21 Hong Kong tourists on board.

For three years, survivors and families of the victims have been demanding an apology from the Philippine government, an offer of compensation, punishment for the officials responsible for the bungled police operation and improvement in tourist safety, but the Philippine government never offered an apology or compensation.

Global Times - Agencies