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Principal Immigration Officer Mr P Y Cheng and an Immigration Officer from the Office of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in Beijing (the Beijing Office) have departed for Hubei tonight (June 8) to assist a tour group of 20 Hong Kong residents who had a traffic accident at Xingshan County, Yichang City in Hubei.
Two more Immigration Officers from the Immigration Department will depart Hong Kong tomorrow morning to help.
The accident occurred at about 4 pm this afternoon. The tour group, organised by a Mainland travel agent, started their journey from Shenzhen on June 1.
The group comprises 10 men and 10 women. According to initial reports, three Hong Kong residents - two women and one man - were reported to have died and 13 other Hong Kong residents were injured. All the injured persons were sent to a hospital in the vicinity for treatment.
A spokesman for the Security Bureau said after learning of the accident this evening, the Immigration Department had immediately liaised with the relevant Mainland authorities via the Beijing Office, and contacted the Mainland travel agent to follow up the case.
"We will provide all practicable assistance to the victims and their families. The Immigration Department has already contacted most of the family members of the victims in Hong Kong," the spokesman said.
So far, the Immigration Department has received eight requests for assistance in relation to the accident.
Any Hong Kong people who need help may contact the Immigration Department's 24-hour hotline (852) 1868.
Ends/Thursday, June 8, 2006
Issued at HKT 22:50
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