A powerful earthquake has hit the coast just off Indonesia's Sumatra Island. The Hong Kong Observatory measured the quake at 8.7 on the Richter scale. Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee said no request for assistance has been received so far.

Noting there are no Hong Kong tourist groups in the affected region, Mr Lee said the Government will monitor the incident and the Security Bureau will be prepared to provide all practicable assistance to Hong Kong residents.

Those needing assistance abroad can contact the Chinese Embassy or Consulate General or call the Immigration Department's 24-hour hotline at (852) 2829 3010. For numbers and addresses of Chinese embassies and consulates call the department on (852) 2824 6111 or (852) 2829 3010.

The earthquake struck the region just after midnight, Hong Kong time. The epicentre was about 410 kilometres south-southeast of Banda Aceh, the region hardest hit by the massive quake and tsunamis around the Indian Ocean rim on December 26.

Indonesia's Meteorological & Geophysics Office said the quake lasted up to three minutes and it issued tsunami warnings.