Update - December 28

Unlocated persons

As at noon, 28 December 2005, there were 2 unlocated Hong Kong residents. All were reported to be in Thailand.

As of today, a total of 38 Hong Kong residents were reported to have deceased.

A website showing the personal particulars and photos of unlocated persons has been set up by the Government. Details of unlocated persons remain uploaded on the website at http://www.info.gov.hk/info/tsunamis/eng/person.htm

The Hong Kong Red Cross, the Red Cross in Thailand and the Thai Foreign Ministry have hyperlinked the Government’s Tsunami Help Info page to their websites.

The HKSARG would continue to follow up all outstanding cases and provide practical assistance to Hong Kong residents and their families where necessary. Hong Kong residents may call the Immigration Department's hotline at 1868 for assistance.

Thai authorities are establishing a DNA database to help identify disaster victims. The Hong Kong Police had contacted relatives of missing Hong Kong residents to collect DNA samples for analysis on a voluntary basis. Analysed DNA information as well as finger print record had been sent to the Thai authorities through the appropriate channel for identification purpose.

Relief Aid

Upon appeal by the Indonesian authorities, a consignment of 76 tonnes relief supplies donated by the HKSAR Government was forwarded to Indonesia on January 7 by direct flight generously offered free by Cathay Pacific Airways and Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminal Limited. This was the second such donation to affected countries by the HKSAR Government since the first to Thailand on January 1. The Government has approved a cash grant of $1 million to the Government of Maldives on January 20 and another cash grant of $1 million to the Government of Sri Lanka on January 25.

The Government has also disbursed HK$22 million in grants from the Disaster Relief Fund to the Hong Kong Red Cross, Oxfam Hong Kong, Hong Kong World Vision, Cedar Fund and the Association of Chinese Evangelical Ministry Ltd for emergency relief of disaster victims. In addition, a total of $45 million was raised at the fund-raising event at Hong Kong Stadium on January 1 and received subsequently at the Hong Kong Post Offices, the Hong Kong Coliseum, the Hong Kong International Airport and District Offices. More than $40 million had been sent to five charitable organizations (Hong Kong Red Cross, World Vision Hong Kong, Oxfam Hong Kong, United Nations Children's Fund and the Salvation Army) for emergency relief operations. The remaining $ 4.8 million donations were placed in a fund i.e. "SHA Incorporated Tsunamis Relief Fund 2004" to provide one-off compassionate financial assistance to Hong Kong residents affected by the disaster. HAD had received 28 applications arising from 27 victims of 19 applicants. Except for a few applications which failed to meet the stipulated eligibility criteria, all other applications were accepted. The successful applications involve a total grant of $4.8 million.

Bogus Appeal for Donations

Police warn against bogus e-mail messages appealing for donations to help disaster victims. Police urge Hong Kong people to be cautious in dealing with such e-mail messages and to call the Police Hotline on 2527 7177 if necessary.

Counselling services

District Offices have established contact with 209 families and offered assistance.

Caritas Hong Kong Hotline 2810 0092 providing support to Foreign Domestic Helpers. Service in Indonesian, Thai and English daily from 10 am to 5 pm.

Special assistance for victims' families

The HKSARG will continue to offer assistance, through the engaged firms of solicitors in Hong Kong and Thailand, as well as the relevant consulates, to the concerned victim families to deal with procedures such as the obtaining and authentication of death certificates of the victims, arranging for families to travel to Thailand for collection and cremation of identified bodies, as well as the provision of information to facilitate the families' application to the court for leave to swear to the death of the missing person. Concerned victim families have been informed of the above-mentioned special assistance in writing and are advised to contact their respective District Officers if need be. As at 15 December 2005, the HKSARG has handled 16 requests to provide the above-mentioned special assistance. The processing of most requests have been completed.