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A Government spokesman today (May 17) said that as at 11am today, the Immigration Department had received 122 requests for assistance and 404 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 98 Hong Kong residents who have reportedly lost contact with their families, 88 of them have already re-established contact with their family members. The Immigration Department and the Office of the HKSARG in Beijing will maintain close liaison with Mainland authorities to follow up on the remaining 10 cases as well as to obtain more information on the situation and render all practical assistance to Hong Kong residents in need.
Those who require assistance may call the Immigration Department's 24-hour hotline at (852) 1868.
Ends/Saturday, May 17, 2008
Issued at HKT 11:30
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