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A Government spokesman today (May 14) said that as at 11am today, the Immigration Department had received 76 requests for assistance and 291 enquiries in the wake of the serious earthquake in Sichuan. Most of the requests involved cases in which family members in Hong Kong failed to get in touch with their relatives on the Mainland.
Of the requests for assistance, 41 Hong Kong residents have already re-established contact with their family members.
Staff of the Office of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in Beijing (Beijing Office) have arrived in Chengdu to join the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Chengdu) staff to assist Hong Kong residents in need.
The Immigration Department will maintain close liaison with Mainland authorities through the Beijing Office to obtain more information on the situation and give all possible assistance to Hong Kong residents in need. Those who require assistance may call the Immigration Department's 24-hour hotline at (852) 1868.
Ends/Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Issued at HKT 11:49
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