DPA
Hong Kong, May 13 (DPA) Hong Kong Tuesday pledged 300 million Hong Kong dollars ($38.4 million) in aid and volunteer rescue teams for the victims of the earthquake in China’s Sichuan province. Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Donald Tsang announced at a press conference that a team comprising experts from the Fire Services Department and Health Department was on standby ready to fly to the affected areas.

Another group of volunteer doctors and nurses was also on standby, according to Tsang who said: “We are coordinating with the central government how best they should go and when they should go in and what areas they can help.”

Tsang added: “I have asked our Beijing office and Chengdu office to help the Hong Kong residents who might be stranded in that area, and at the same time I am hoping that the Hong Kong community will, as usual, participate in charitable work and make voluntary donations to help the victims in this area.”

Flights between Hong Kong and Chengdu have been disrupted by the earthquake and Hong Kong’s Immigration Department said Tuesday it had received 40 requests for help from Hong Kong people seeking information about relatives in Sichuan.

The magnitude-7.8 quake hit Monday, killing more than 9,000 people and leaving at least 10,000 people buried in one city alone under collapsed buildings.
DPA