One Hong Kong man and his son are reported dead following the tsunamis in Phuket, Deputy Secretary for Security Michael Wong says, adding the Government is now verifying the information.

Speaking at a press conference this afternoon, Mr Wong said the Government's support team found a Filipino woman, who is a Hong Kong resident, in a hospital in Phuket.

The woman said her son and her Chinese husband had died in the tragedy, adding that their bodies had been sent back to the Philippines.

Enthusiastic support: Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa attends a fundraising event to help tsunami victims. Secretary for the Civil Service Joseph Wong leads civil servants in an appeal for donations. Residents  make generous donations at Hong Kong Stadium.

Meanwhile, immigration officers from the support team have been sent to look after the woman, whose daughter has also been admitted to hospital in coma. The support team will also send a doctor and a psychologist to offer assistance to the woman.

109 residents cannot be reached

At noon today, 109 Hong Kong residents still had not be contact. Of them, 74 were reported to be in Thailand, two in Malaysia, six in Sri Lanka, one in the Maldives, and 11 in Indonesia.

Meanwhile, 949 people were reportedly stranded in the affected areas. Since the information on those people is incomplete, the Government is now following up.

Mr Wong said families of over 10 affected citizens have agreed to disclose their relatives' information. The details will be uploaded onto the Immigration Department's Tsunami help info webpage tonight.

The Government is liaising with other affected families on the issue, Mr Wong said, adding some of them need more time to consider it.

He urged employers to call the Immigration Department's hotline, 2829 3010, if they find their employers, who are supposed to resume work after the holidays, do not show up.

Speaking on the support team's work, Mr Wong said more than 160 people have been sent to Thailand and Sri Lanka to assist affected Hong Kong residents. Four more Police officers have arrived in Thailand to carry out co-ordination work.

Public enthusiasm praised

Meanwhile, more than 13,000 people flocked to Hong Kong Stadium this afternoon to join a fundraising event to help tsunami victims. The activity has raised about $33 million.

Speaking at the event, Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa thanked the community for their enthusiastic participation, saying their benevolent acts reflect Hong Kong people's spirit of mutual care and support.