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The following is the transcript of a meet-the-media session by the Financial Secretary, Mr Donald Tsang, after visiting the aircraft accident scene at the Hong Kong International Airport today (Monday):
I have no plan to meet you, ladies and gentlemen, although I always relish this opportunity. I come here trying to gain some background information of the accident. It was such a serious accident and I hope that in addition to giving some morale pep talk to my colleagues, I was able to get hold of some of the background information so that in participating in discussions or, follow-up action, I would be able to do so meaningfully and usefully. As we know, this was a very serious accident, one of the worst in our aviation history. We feel very very sorry for those who have been injured and those two persons who died during the accident. We are giving medical attention to those who are injured and in this, we spare no effort. The Hospital Authority is doing its very best to look after them. For those who have died, I am very sorry and I send them my deepest condolences. At the same time, we hope that we would be able to help the families to get over this problem as soon as possible. One thing came very clear to our mind that the way in which the rescue operation was conducted, looking at the wreckage just now, I think it was sort of a miracle that however horrible that we have had sustained such an injury, for the number of people died and the extent of injuries involved is miraculously low. That must be the work of the rescue operation. We have seen how the Airport Authority, Civil Aviation Department, the Auxiliary Services and the Hospital Authority working very hard in this rescue operation, but the highest credit must go to our Fire Services Department which has done exceedingly well. As a member of the Civil Service, I am very proud of them. As a Hong Kong citizen, I think we are grateful to them for all their work. I hope they will continue their good work and make sure that Hong Kong has the safest airport to land and with the best emergency preparation arrangement to cope with incidents of this kind. Thank you very much.
Photo: The Financial Secretary, Mr Donald Tsang, visited the scene of the aircraft accident at the Southern Runway of the Hong Kong International Airport. Photograph shows Mr Tsang (left), accompanied by the Airport Authority's Chief Executive Officer, Mr Billy Lam (right) and Director of Civil Aviation, Mr Albert Lam, having a close look to the wreckage of the aircraft.
End/Monday, August 23, 1999
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