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A Government spokesman said that as at noon today (January 26), the Immigration Department's hotline (2829 3010) had received 877 enquiries and 1,426 requests for assistance.

Meanwhile, there were still 28 unlocated Hong Kong residents. All were reported to be in Thailand.

As of today, a total of 12 Hong Kong residents were reported to have died and at the moment, there was no Hong Kong resident known to still be in hospital as a result of the tsunami disaster.

The HKSARG will continue to follow up all outstanding cases and provide practical assistance to Hong Kong residents requiring assistance. Hong Kong residents may call the Immigration Department's hotline at 2829 3010 for assistance.

On the DNA database set up by the Thai authorities to help verify the identity of victims in the disaster, the spokesman said that Hong Kong Police continued to contact relatives of unlocated Hong Kong people for the collection of DNA samples. The Police had so far taken samples from 27 family members of missing people.

Ends/Wednesday, January 26, 2005

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