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The Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, met a visiting 15-member delegation from the Ministry of Communications led by the Vice-Minister of Communications, Mr Huang Xianyao, at Government House this morning (August 9).
The Government Flying Service (GFS) rescued 91 Mainland crew members of two barges that were in distress off Shangchuan Dao at the Southwest of Hong Kong during Typhoon Prapiroon on August 3 and 4.
Mr Huang paid tribute to the GFS team for mounting two fearless operations that included eight rounds of flying over very rough seas in stormy weather to airlift the crew members to safety.
"After learning that the crewmen had been safely rescued by GFS, President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao and Vice-President Zeng Qinghong felt delighted and praised the GFS for its professionalism and spirit of humanitarianism. They directed us to convey their thanks to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and the GFS crew," Mr Huang said.
Mr Tsang thanked Mr Huang and the delegation for coming all the way to Hong Kong to convey the Central Government's approval of the HKSAR Government's work.
Mr Tsang said, "We will spare no effort in helping our compatriots in distress. The incident has underlined the strong spirit of affinity and mutual help among Chinese people in Hong Kong and the Mainland."
The Chief Executive also took the opportunity to thank the Central Government for their staunch support and care of Hong Kong people whenever they faced difficulty on the Mainland and overseas, citing examples of the assistance of Chinese diplomatic and consular missions extended to stricken Hong Kong residents after a coach accident in Egypt last February and the Solomon Islands incident last April.
GFS mobilised 16 pilots and 12 aircrewmen and deployed two fixed-wing aircraft and two Super Puma helicopters to carry out the two operations last week. As a result, 91 Mainland crewmen on the two barges, "Hai Yang Shi You 298" and "Wing On 4," were safely airlifted to Hong Kong.
After the meeting with the Chief Executive, Mr Huang visited the GFS Headquarters in the afternoon to meet and personally thank the GFS crew for their courage and devotion to duty.
The Controller of GFS, Captain Brian Butt, briefed Mr Huang on search and rescue services provided round the clock by GFS to the Hong Kong community as well as people in peril in the South China Sea.
Since 1999, Hong Kong has mobilised 73 helicopter flights and 63 flights of fixed-wing aircraft to assist the China Maritime Search and Rescue Centre in sea rescue operations.
A demonstration was arranged for Mr Huang and his delegation to show how pilots and aircrewmen winch people to safety in dangerous rescue missions.
During Mr Huang's two-day visit to Hong Kong, he also met the Secretary for Economic Development and Labour, Mr Stephen Ip; the Permanent Secretary for Security, Mr Stanley Ying; and the Director of Marine, Mr Roger Tupper.
Ends/Wednesday, August 9, 2006
Issued at HKT 18:15
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