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The Hong Kong SAR search and rescue (S&R) team deployed to Sichuan for earthquake rescue work returned to Hong Kong this evening (May 22).
The Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose S K Lee; the Permanent Secretary for Security, Ms K Y Chang; the Director of Fire Services, Mr Lo Chun-hung; Acting Director of Health, Dr Gloria Tam; and Assistant Director of Information Services, Mr S Y Tam, greeted the team at the airport.
The 43-member S&R team, led by Senior Divisional Officer of the Fire Services Department, Mr Tam Tai-keung, included 34 firemen, six ambulancemen, a medical officer, a registered nurse from the Department of Health and an Assistant Information Officer of the Information Services Department.
The team flew to Chengdu in two batches on May 15 and 16 and were assigned to carry out search and rescue work at Hanwang in Mianzhu, one of the most devastated areas.
The team recovered 24 bodies from the rubble of a collapsed office building and factory plants in the vicinity, and assisted the Liberation Army find a woman survivor trapped under a collapsed building.
The S&R team moved to Chengdu on May 20 after the task in Hanwang was accomplished. They received a letter of appreciation from the Dongfang Electric Communist Party on May 20 and a banner from the Sichuan Provincial People's Government yesterday (May 21) for their rescue efforts.
Ends/Thursday, May 22, 2008
Issued at HKT 21:15
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