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Following is the transcript of remarks (English portion) made to the media by the Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose S K Lee, at the Central Government Offices, Main Wing this afternoon (December 27):

Reporter: How long will it take for the Government to fully assess the situation?

Secretary for Security: The HKSAR Government is deeply grieved by the incident yesterday leading to the loss of tens of thousands of lives. We want to send our deepest condolences to the victims and the families. After I received this piece of information yesterday, I have already instructed one of my senior staff, a Deputy Secretary for Security, to head a team to handle the situation. But as you know, the communication was rather confused yesterday and we have received different pieces of information mainly through the media and information fed by our embassies and consulates there. According to the Hong Kong Travel Industry Council, we have about 30 to 40 groups of tourists in Phuket, each group consisting about 40 tourists. Our rough estimate is that we have about 1 000-odd Hong Kong tourists now in Phuket. Up to 2pm today, we have received 309 enquiries and 298 requests for assistance. In order to help Hong Kong residents coming back, two Immigration Officers left Hong Kong for Phuket taking the first available flight this morning. Another team of Immigration Officers will start the journey at 3.40 this afternoon. We are still liaising with our consulate there. So far, we have helped some of our Hong Kong residents to liaise with their relatives in Hong Kong, saying that they are safe there. So far, we have received information that about 18 Hong Kong residents are now in hospital. So far, there is no fatality yet. We are still closely monitoring the situation.

Reporter: ... 30 to 40 missing, did you say? ...

Secretary for Security: No. No. Thirty to 40 groups, tourist groups, are there. About 40 each group.

Reporter: How many people reported missing?

Secretary for Security: I don't have that figure now.

Reporter: When will you have that figure?

Secretary for Security: If we have that figure, we will release it.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

Ends/Monday, December 27, 2004

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