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Regarding an incident in which some members of a group of Hong Kong tourists were swept away by waves in a beach on Hainan Island, a Government spokesman said today (June 29) that upon learning the incident, the Immigration Department immediately contacted the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong (GDETO) to follow up the case. Initial information indicated that one Hong Kong resident had died and another gone missing. The Immigration Department has sent sympathy to the families of the victims and rendered assistance in accordance with their wish.
GDETO staff will fly to Hainan tomorrow to offer appropriate assistance to the Hong Kong people concerned.
The spokesman said the Immigration Department would continue to keep in touch with the GDETO, the tour group and the families concerned to render assistance as far as possible.
Residents who need assistance while outside Hong Kong may call the 24-hour hotline of the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit of the Immigration Department at (852) 1868.
Ends/Monday, June 29, 2009
Issued at HKT 23:07
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