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A special flight by China Southern Airlines this afternoon (February 2) brought back about 170 Hong Kong residents who had been stranded in Luxor.
On behalf of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, the Under Secretary for Security, Mr Lai Tung-kwok, welcomed the returned residents at the airport and met with the cockpit crew to express gratitude for their bringing them home safely.
Mr Li Guolong, captain of the special flight, said the crew members were honoured to take up this meaningful task. He wished Hong Kong people a happy Chinese New Year.
"It is particularly important that the travellers can return home before Chinese New Year for celebrations with their family," said Mr Lai.
"Once again, I wish to thank the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in Hong Kong and Central People's Government for their care and support. With their assistance, the special flight was arranged swiftly and it flew from Luxor to Hong Kong direct."
From January 29 to noon today (February 2), the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit of the Immigration Department has received 391 enquiries and 47 assistance requests, all of which had been settled satisfactorily.
The special flight took off from Luxor at about 1am local time today and arrived in Hong Kong around 4pm today.
The Government will continue to liaise with the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in Hong Kong, the Chinese Embassy in Egypt and the tourism industry and provide all practicable assistance to Hong Kong residents in need. Residents outside Hong Kong who need assistance may call the 24-hour hotline (852) 1868 of the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit of the Immigration Department.
Ends/Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Issued at HKT 18:57
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