A mourning ceremony for eight victims of the hostage-taking tragedy in Manila, Philippines, kicked off at 8:00 a.m. local time Thursday at Hong Kong's landmark Golden Bauhinia Square.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang led principal officials of the city's government to observe a three-minute silence.

Hong Kong will stage a city-wide mourning ritual on Thursday.

(Xinhua News Agency August 26, 2010)