All government offices in Hong Kong lowered flags at half-mast Tuesday, while principal officials canceled unnecessary activities to mourn the dead.

Chief Secretary for Administration, Henry Tang, has decided to cancel his duty visit to Italy and Switzerland planned for August 25 to 29. He will stay in Hong Kong to deal with the aftermath of the incident.

"A Symphony of Lights", the famous light and sound show along the Victoria Harbor, will also be suspended on Tuesday evening.

A 21-member Hong Kong tour group aboard a bus was hijacked by a dismissed Filipino policeman Monday morning in Manila. So far, the crisis ended with nine dead.

Hong Kong has issued the Black Outbound Travel Alert for the Philippines, the highest level of Hong Kong's three-sign Outbound Travel Alert system.

The government ordered all Hong Kong tour groups in the country to return home as soon as possible. Flight seats have been reserved for Hong Kong people who are still in the country. Groups due to depart Hong Kong for the Philippines should cancel their journey.