050107en08002

	news.gov.hk
	From Hong Kong's Information Services Department

January 7, 2005

Disaster recovery

HK tsunami death toll hits 10

Another Hong Kong resident has been confirmed dead in the South Asian tsunami. She was an American Chinese woman in Thailand. Her family has arranged to send her body to the US.

Deputy Secretary for Security Michael Wong said as at noon today, two Hong Kong residents are known to be in hospital in Thailand. Mr Wong said together with the three earlier missing employee reports, Police are now looking for six missing employees - with the addition of a Chinese man and woman, and an Indian man.

No new reports of missing students have been received.

Caring consignment: Seventy-six tons of relief supplies are prepared for shipment to Indonesia, while Indonesian Consul-General Paiman Turnip (centre) thanks Cathay Pacific's Allen Wong as Director of Protocol Tony Nyugen looks on.

58 missing

Fifty-eight Hong Kong residents cannot be reached. Of them, 33 are in Thailand, one in Malaysia, nine in Indonesia and 15 in other places. There are no Hong Kong residents known to be in Sri Lanka or the Maldives.

Meanwhile, 153 people are reportedly stranded in the affected areas and the Government is following up on these reports.

Mr Wong said Police have taken 25 DNA samples from relatives of missing people for identification. Concerned families can go to Central Police Station in Arsenal Street to provide samples. They can also call 2829 3010 for enquiries.

More relief on the way

A second consignment of 76 tons of relief supplies will be flown to Indonesia tomorrow. The consignment includes drinking water, tents, blankets and torches. Free freight was offered by Cathay Pacific and Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals.

Indonesian Consul-General Paiman Turnip thanked the Government for its positive and proactive response, and the two companies for their public-spirited offers that have made the speedy delivery possible.

60 officers in Thailand

Families of 19 affected citizens have agreed to disclose their relatives' information on the Immigration Department's tsunami help information website.

Mr Wong said as the situation in Thailand continues to stabilise and the need for the support team's service is reducing, another batch of 30 officers will return tonight.

But 60 remain in Thailand and their service will be maintained. Mr Wong said manpower of the support team will be constantly reviewed to cope with the need for the service.