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A Government spokesman today (May 15) said that as at 11pm today, the Immigration Department had received 114 requests for assistance and 368 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.
Among the 91 lost contact cases, 76 Hong Kong residents have already re-established contact with their family members. The Immigration Dpartment and the Office of the HKSARG in Beijing (Beijing Office) will maintain close liaison with Mainland authorities to follow up with the remaining 15 cases.
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/Thursday, May 15, 2008
Issued at HKT 23:26
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