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The Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, Sichuan Provincial Peoples' Government, Mr Cui Zhiwei, and Mr Lv Er Xu from the Helicopter of Civil Aviation Administration today (June 5), on behalf of the Disaster Relief Command of the Sichuan Provincial Peoples' Government, presented a banner to the HKSAR Government Flying Service (GFS) team in appreciation of the efforts of the team members in providing assistance in the rescue and quarantine work in the earthquake disaster areas. Receiving the banner in Chengdu were the Director of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs, Chengdu (Chengdu ETO), Mr Richard Luk Fong-chun, and GFS Captain Ardis S T Tang.
Mr Luk said, "The GFS team stationed at Guanghan Airport has done their best in the search and relief work in the areas affected by the earthquake. Now they have successfully completed their missions.
"Chengdu ETO will continue to keep in close contact with the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, Sichuan Provincial Peoples' Government, and other relevant departments and deploy relief support to the earthquake-stricken areas should the need arise anytime."
Mr Cui said, "We are grateful to the Hong Kong SAR Government for its prompt deployment of emergency relief teams to Sichuan to support rescue and relief efforts."
The GFS team comprising pilots, aircrew and aircraft engineers had airlifted 96 people to safety and completed 26 operations. They will return to Hong Kong tomorrow (June 6).
Ends/Thursday, June 5, 2008
Issued at HKT 23:06
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