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Following is a statement by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Donald Tsang, following the terrorist attacks in the United States today (September 11, Washington Time):
Words can hardly describe my shock at today's terrible events involving terrorist attacks in New York and also in Washington D C.
My delegation left New York this morning about 7.10 am and we landed here in Washington D C about an hour later. I heard about the two planes crashing into the World Trade Centre shortly after it happened, about 9 am.
Obviously our official progamme in Washington today has been overtaken by these events.
The whole of the Administration here in Washington is in a state of emergency in dealing with this devastating tragedy.
For my part , and I believe that I speak for all the people of Hong Kong, I am deeply saddened and aggrieved at such a terrible loss of life. We express our profound sympathy for the American people. Terrorist attacks of any such kind are abhorrent to human decency.
End/Wednesday, September 12, 2001
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