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The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government support team continues to maintain a strategic presence in Thailand to provide assistance to Hong Kong residents affected by the tsunamis in Thailand. This follows the departure of 30 members of the team from Thailand for Hong Kong this afternoon (January 8).

Before leaving Phuket today, the coordinator of the team Ms Linda So said the team has done its best to help Hong Kong residents in need during the operation. She said, "While the team has been working on a challenging task, members have tried every possible means and channels to help Hong Kong residents. We are proud to serve the people of Hong Kong."

Ms So also said, "We are very grateful for the assistance offered by the Thai government and the Chinese Embassy in Thailand which have been very supportive in our operation."

During the operation, the team has received about 150 enquiries and requests for assistance. The team also located 20 Hong Kong residents in hospitals in Thailand who were given care and assistance. In addition, the team rendered assistance to the families of the nine Hong Kong residents who lost their lives in the tsunami in Thailand.

Immigration officers have handled almost 60 cases of requests for assistance from Hong Kong residents relating to lost travel documents.

Members of the team have visited some 40 hospitals in Bangkok and Phuket and over 340 hotels and tourist accommodations in Phuket areas.

About 40 members of the team are still in Thailand to provide essential services to Hong Kong residents. The help desks set up in Phuket Airport, Bangkok International Airport and the Coordination Centre in Phuket are operating daily. Team members continue to provide every possible assistance to the Hong Kong girl who remains in critical condition in a Phuket hospital and her mother.

Three telephone hotlines continue to operate round-the-clock to provide assistance to Hong Kong residents. The numbers are 096471215 and 096471208 (calling from Thailand) or Hong Kong number (852) 9038 6578.

To complement the Thai effort to set up a DNA database of the deceased, the support team is offering to take DNA samples of Hong Kong family members who are currently in Thailand.

Ends/Saturday, January 8, 2005