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The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has marked today (October 4) as a day of condolence to mourn for those who lost their lives in the vessel collision incident off Lamma Island.
The Chief Executive, Mr C Y Leung, led the Principal Officials and the Non-Official Members of the Executive Council in observing three minutes of silence at the East Wing Forecourt of the Central Government Offices, Tamar, at noon today to mourn for the tragic death of 38 people in the vessel collision incident. The silent tribute at Tamar was joined by over 400 government officials.
During the observance of the three-minute silence, government services except for emergency services and border control were suspended. Staff on duty observed three minutes of silence at their respective workplaces.
Later in the day, the Chief Executive, together with the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Carrie Lam; the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Tsang Tak-sing; the Secretary for Security, Mr Lai Tung-kwok; and the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, visited the Leighton Hill Community Hall to sign the condolence book to mourn for the victims of the vessel collision incident.
The Secretary for Justice, Mr Rimsky Yuen, SC; the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Professor Anthony Cheung Bing-leung; the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Professor K C Chan; the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Gregory So; the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Raymond Tam; the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Paul Tang; the Secretary for Education, Mr Eddie Ng Hak-kim; the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing; and the Secretary for Development, Mr Paul Chan, also signed the condolence book at various times today at Leighton Hill Community Hall.
The Financial Secretary, Mr John C Tsang, and the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, also expressed their deep condolences by signing the condolence books at Quarry Bay Community Hall and Kennedy Town Community Complex respectively.
The Government has set up condolence points in each of the 18 districts from today to Saturday (October 6) for the public to express their concern over the incident and deep condolences to the families of those who lost their lives or were injured, and concern for the many survivors.
Condolence books at places for condolences are open to the public to sign from 1pm to 9pm today and from 9am to 9pm tomorrow (October 5) and on October 6.
The HKSAR flags at all government buildings are being flown at half-mast for three days from today to October 6. Noting the half-mast arrangements by the HKSAR Government in memory of the victims of the vessel collision incident off Lamma Island, the State Council has advised the HKSAR Government that the National Flags displayed at all HKSAR Government offices and Central People's Government offices in the HKSAR are being flown at half-mast for three consecutive days starting today as well. Principal Officials have cancelled non-essential public functions during the period. "A Symphony of Lights" has also been suspended for three days.
Ends/Thursday, October 4, 2012
Issued at HKT 19:35
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