Foreign Ministry Spokesman Kong Quan Briefs on the Latest Casualties of Chinese Citizens in the Tsunami

2005-01-03 00:00

On the evening of January 2, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Kong Quan briefed on the latest casualties of Chinese citizens in the tsunami of the Indian Ocean. He said, according to the information reported to the Department of Consular Affairs of the Foreign Ministry by the Chinese Embassy in Thailand, by 21:30 on January 2 Beijing time, there were totally nine Chinese citizens in Thailand died in the catastrophe, two of whom were from Jiangsu Provice, one from the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, four from Hong Kong, and two from Taiwan. Besides, two citizens from the mainland are injured and under treatment in hospital. Furthermore, 15 Chinese citizens from the mainland and more than 60 Chinese citizens from Hong Kong are missing in Thailand, Indonesia and other countries.

 

Kong Quan said, this afternoon, Liao Hui, Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, conveyed in a telephone conversation the solicitudes of the Central Government to Tung Chee-Hwa, Chief Executive of the HKSAR, and indicated that the Central Government would fully support the rescue work of the HKSAR Government. The Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council also expressed the solicitudes to the families of Taiwan investors in the mainland who died in the calamity.

 

Kong Quan also said that relevant local governments had given solicitudes to the relatives of the citizens who died in the catastrophe, and would assist them in properly handling the follow-up issues.

 

With regard to the rescue work of Chinese embassies and consulates in relevant countries, Kong Quan said that President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao had for many times instructed the Foreign Ministry and Chinese embassies and consulates to do their best to rescue the stranded Chinese citizens. Relevant embassies and consulates have adopted a number of emergency measures. The Chinese Embassy in Thailand has also set up a reception office lately at the Bangkok International Airport, offering services such as free certification, accommodation, and air tickets booking. Currently all relevant embassies and consulates are doing their utmost to look for missing Chinese Citizens, and continuing to provide whatever assistances and service it takes to the stranded citizens.