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The Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, Sichuan Provincial Peoples' Government, Mr Cui Zhiwei, today (May 21), on behalf of the Provincial Peoples' Government, presented a banner to the Hong Kong SAR search and rescue team in appreciation of the efforts of over 40 team members in conducting operations in the disaster areas.
Receiving the banner in Chengdu were the Director of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs, Chengdu, Mr Richard Luk Fong-chun, and the leader of the Hong Kong SAR search and rescue team, Mr Tam Tai-keung.
At the presentation ceremony, Mr Tam, on behalf of the SAR Government, extended his deepest condolences to all the victims of the earthquake in Sichuan.
He said that the HKSAR search and rescue team had made every effort to conduct their search and rescue operations. At one point, team members were threatened by an earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale but they were able to complete their tasks safely.
"We have currently based our team in Chengdu where team members stand ready to embark on new search and rescue operations assigned by the Mainland authorities, if any. Otherwise, we will plan to fly back home," he said.
To date, the Hong Kong SAR search and rescue team has recovered 24 victims who lost their lives during the earthquake in Hanwang, Mianzhu, Sichuan.
Ends/Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Issued at HKT 17:21
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