‘We must not allow terrorism to continue to haunt mankind,’ writes top official
PEACE.CHIU@SCMP.COM
UPDATED : Wednesday, 23 March, 2016, 7:07pm
Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor signs the book of condolence. Photo: Dickson Lee
Dignitaries, Belgians and Hongkongers condemned Tuesday’s attacks in Brussels and expressed sympathy and support for people in Belgium as a book of condolence was signed at the nation’s consulate in Hong Kong.
Among mourners were Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, Consul General of Belgium in Hong Kong Michèle Deneffe, and Head of Office of the European Unionto Hong Kong and Macao Vincent Piket.
Lam expressed sympathy for the victims of the terrorist atrocity, writing in the condolence book: “We share the pain of their family and friends. We must not allow terrorism to continue to haunt mankind. Let’s pray together for world peace.”
Piket condemned the attacks, in which at least 31 people died, saying there was “no excuse” for any type of violence.
“We have to be very vigilant against the threats of terrorism, and cooperate and show a lot of solidarity to make sure this kind of incident does not happen again,” he said.
Consul General of Belgium in Hong Kong Michèle Deneffe signs the condolence book. Photo: Dickson Lee
Piket also said he had spoken to colleagues who work in Brussels, the host country of various EU institutions.
Miroslaw Adamczyk, Poland’s consul general in Hong Kong, wrote that he was “deeply shocked” by another “brutal attack” by Islamic State, and called for the world to “stand united” to fight terrorism.
One Hongkonger who paid her respects was Ms Tong, who migrated to Belgium, becoming a Belgian national, before returning to Hong Kong. She said she was deeply saddened by news of the attacks but was thankful that her friends were safe.
“My friends’ child was on the way to school when they passed by one of the sites of the attacks before it happened. Thankfully the child was not injured,” she said.
She added that her friends told her life was no longer normal there, and that they were choosing not to go out or send their children to school.
The consulate general will be open for book signing from 2-4pm on Thursday.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1929831/brussels-bomb-attacks-hong-kong-chief-secretary-among
