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The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, today (Wednesday) decided to deploy a team of firemen and ambulancemen to assist in rescue operations in Taiwan.

A Government spokesman said that Mr Tung shared Hong Kong people's concern for compatriots devastated by the severe earthquake in Taiwan.

Headed by a Senior Divisional Officer of the Fire Services Department, the 16-member team will be leaving for Taiwan as early as possible tomorrow.

"The voluntary team will bring with them a quantity of sophisticated rescue equipment, including two sets each of life detectors and gas detectors, as well as break-in and rescue tools," the spokesman said.

The spokesman added that the Government stood ready to provide assistance to victims of the Taiwan earthquake.

"The Disaster Relief Fund set up in 1993 aims to provide a mechanism to enable Hong Kong to respond swiftly to international appeals for humanitarian aid in relief of disasters that occur outside Hong Kong.

"We have been in contact with a number of international relief organisations with a view to expediting any application for grants of aids to assist the victims of the Taiwan earthquake," he said.

End/Wednesday, September 22, 1999

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