Philippine consulate in Hong Kong helping family of tourist killed in taxi crash

The Philippine consulate in Hong Kong is helping the family of a Filipino tourist who was killed when an 80-year-old taxi driver crashed his vehicle into a hotel wall, as lawmakers renewed calls for elderly cabbies to face stricter health requirements.

In an email to the Post on Wednesday, Philippine vice-consul George Mariano Soriano said his office was assisting the family of the 35-year-old tourist and “anticipating their arrival in Hong Kong soon to arrange the shipment of [his] remains”.

“The consulate general offers its deepest condolences to the deceased’s family and prays for his eternal rest,” he said.

Soriano said the man’s body was being kept at the Kwai Chung Public Mortuary for now.

The tourist was struck head-on by the speeding taxi when it mounted the pavement outside Tsuen Wan’s Nina Hotel on Tuesday afternoon. The impact of the crash left a hole in the venue’s facade.

The victim was rushed to hospital but was later pronounced dead.