Helping hands: Director of Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in Chengdu Richard Luk (right) presents the first 1,000 tents to Sichuan authorities.

An air shipment of 1,000 tents for people left homeless by the Sichuan earthquake has arrived in Chengdu.

Presenting the tents to the Sichuan authorities, Director of Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in Chengdu Richard Luk said emergency relief teams from the relevant departments in Hong Kong sent to Sichuan have supported rescue and relief efforts. They have successfully completed their missions, he added.

Mr Luk said the tents' delivery marks the start of the second stage of the relief work.

The Hong Kong Government secured the tents at Sichuan authorities' request. Each tent can accommodate 10 to 12 people. The shipment of another 1,500 similar tents will soon follow this first batch.

Mr Luk advised voluntary groups and volunteers not go to quake-hit areas for now, except for professional relief teams which had made prior arrangements through the relevant Mainland authorities.