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The Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose S K Lee, announced at a press conference yesterday (December 29) that the Government was sending a 120-strong team to Phuket, including officers from Immigration Department, Police, Civil Aid Service, Auxiliary Medical Service and Department of Health, to expedite the search of missing Hong Kong residents as well as providing assistance to stranded Hong Kong residents in areas affected by the tsunami.

As at 8pm yesterday, the Immigration Department's hotline (2829 3010) had received a total of 828 enquiries and 691 requests for assistance.

Of the 691 requests for assistance, 599 HK residents were reported to have lost contact with their families in HK. The callers in these cases were able to provide the personal particulars of the residents concerned as well as information about their last known location to the Immigration Department.

Of the above 599 residents, 348 have either reestablished contact with their families or returned safely to Hong Kong. There are 251 outstanding cases which Immigration Department will follow up. Amongst them, 197 were reported to be in Thailand, 7 in Malaysia, 12 in Sri Lanka, 6 in Maldives, 23 in Indonesia and 6 in other places.

In addition, callers also reported that another 1 052 Hong Kong residents might be stranded in the areas affected by the tsunamis but were unable to provide the personal particulars of the residents concerned or specific information about their last known locations. The Immigration Department is in the process of liaising with the callers in respect of each of these cases to seek the information required for following these cases up expeditiously. As at 8pm yesterday, 265 residents falling in this category have already been located.

Currently, 28 Immigration officers have been sent to Phuket/Bangkok in Thailand and 4 to Colombo in Sri Lanka respectively to assist and facilitate the early return of Hong Kong residents affected by the tsunamis. The officers in Phuket have visited local hospitals and found that 6 Hong Kong residents had been hospitalised.

As at 8pm yesterday, one Hong Kong resident has been confirmed to have deceased in Phuket. The family of the deceased has been informed.

The Government has contacted a number of international relief agencies, informing them they could apply to the Disaster Relief Fund for allocation. The agencies, including the Red Cross, World Vision, Medecins Sans Frontieres and Oxfam, have all indicated that they would apply for emergency funds. We have so far received one application and will expedite the processing so that the agency could arrange relief supplies and assistance to those in need as soon as possible.

The Home Affairs Bureau and the Home Affairs Department with the 18 District Officers have been supplementing the efforts of the Security Bureau and the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau by offering help to those who are in Hong Kong waiting anxiously for news about their family members who have travelled to the tsunami-hit areas. They have established contact with seven families yesterday afternoon and together with the Social Welfare Department are providing assistance to them.

Moreover, the 18 District Officers will contact those who have returned to Hong Kong. Residents in need of assistance can call the Home Affairs Department hotline 2835-1473. The department will follow up on their cases and provide referral services in accordance with their needs.

Ends/Thursday, December 30, 2004

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