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The Civil Aviation Department received confirmation at 7 pm that a China Airlines Boeing 747 flight CI 611, which departed from Taipei to Hong Kong at 3.08 pm, had crashed into the sea, the acting Director General of Civil Aviation, Mr Norman Lo, said today (May 25).

Mr Lo said the Hong Kong air traffic control center was informed by the Taipei air traffic control at 3.42 pm that it had lost contact with the plane when the aircraft was within Taiwan air space.

He said: "The Hong Kong SAR Government stands ready to offer assistance in search and rescue operation, though the Taipei authorities have indicated that assistance from Hong Kong was not necessary."

The Immigration Department is operating two 24-hour hotlines 2829 3010, 2829 3071 to offer help for families and friends of Hong Kong passengers on board the flight.

According to the China Airlines, initial reports indicated that of the 206 passengers on board the plane, five - four males and one female - were Hong Kong residents.

End/Saturday, May 25, 2002

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