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The Government would give all possible assistance to victims of Tuesday﷿s (January 31) tour coach accident in Egypt, the Director of Home Affairs, Mrs Pamela Tan, said as she met the first batch of nine injured and six accompanying relatives who returned to Hong Kong today (February 4).
Meeting the group at the airport with colleagues and professional staff from other departments including the Social Welfare Department, Mrs Tan expressed condolences to families of those who died in the accident and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
䩕We are all deeply saddened by the accident. The Chief Executive is very concerned and he has instructed all relevant departments to make every effort to help the injured and the bereaved,蒅 said Mrs Tan.
The group was accompanied from Cairo to Hong Kong by an Immigration Officer, who was in Egypt in the past few days to provide necessary assistance to the affected Hong Kong residents and their family members.
Apart from medical treatment, the Social Welfare Department will provide emotional support and appropriate welfare services to the victims and their families.
Meanwhile, the Education and Manpower Bureau has been in close contact with schools with students involved in the accident, and is on hand to help the schools concerned activate their crisis management teams. The Bureau﷿s education psychologists stand ready to offer counselling services and assistance to students in need when they are back to school after the Lunar New Year Holiday.
"Colleagues from the Immigration Department will continue their efforts to work closely with all parties to facilitate the early return of the rest of those still in Egypt, " Mrs Tan said.
Ends/Saturday, February 4, 2006
Issued at HKT 18:19
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