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

If the information is confirmed to be true, the number of Hong Kong residents known to be killed following the tsunamis will be brought to six.

Speaking at a press conference this afternoon, Mr Wong said the families of the deceased told the Government's support team that the two people had died on Phi Phi Island.

Both of the deceased worked and studied in the Philippines and their bodies will be sent back to the Philippines.

Meanwhile, the support team has found another injured Hong Kong resident in a Phuket hospital. The concerned resident is an Irish citizen and will return to Ireland soon.

60 residents cannot be reached

Speaking about another two injured Hong Kong residents, Mr Wong said a Filipino girl had been admitted to a Phuket hospital in a coma while the other resident, who had been admitted to a Bangkok hospital, had returned to Hong Kong,

At noon today, 60 Hong Kong residents still cannot be reached. Of them, 41 were reported to be in Thailand, one in Malaysia, one in Sri Lanka, and seven in Indonesia.

Meanwhile, 920 people were reportedly stranded in the affected areas. Since the information on those people is incomplete, the Government is now following up.

Gov't helps families provide DNA samples

Thai authorities have announced they will take DNA samples from the dead and set up a DNA database. Blood relatives may give DNA samples for matching.

In the light of this plan, the Hong Kong Government has started assisting the concerned families to provide DNA samples.

"We have started contacting the concerned families. If they are willing and ready to provide their samples, they can go to the Central Police Station in Arsenal Street. The samples required are oral swabs and hair samples."

The concerned families can also call 2829 3010 for enquiries.

He appealed to Hong Kong residents not to travel to Thailand solely for the purpose of giving their DNA samples to the Thai authorities.

Mr Wong said families of some 18 affected citizens had agreed to disclose their relatives' information. The details have been uploaded onto the Immigration Department's Tsunami help info webpage.

The Government is liaising with other affected families on the issue, Mr Wong said, adding some of them needed more time to consider it while a small number of them had rejected the idea.

Speaking on the support team's work, he said more than 10 Police officers had been sent to Bangkok to see if any injured Hong Kong people had been transferred to the hospitals in Bangkok.

Police investigate fraudulent emails

Mr Wong 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.

He also reminded the public to pay attention to fraudulent emails which ask people to donate money to a Cyprus bank account.