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Four more Hong Kong people involved in last week's bus accident in Egypt returned home today (February 6). All members of the Hong Kong tour group involved in the accident have now left Cairo.
The four members were accompanied by relatives, two Immigration Officers and two medical staff from the Hospital Authority.
They were greeted at the airport by representatives from the Home Affairs Department and the Social Welfare Department. Arrangements were made to transfer them to local hospitals for further observation and treatment.
Sixteen tour members have returned to Hong Kong in the past two days.
Six tour members are still in hospital in Paris and another three in Zurich. One tour member has flown to Zurich from Cairo to accompany a hospitalised relative. Three Immigration Officers are in Cairo and two of them will fly to Paris and Zurich to visit tour members hospitalised there.
Fourteen tour members died in the traffic accident in Hurghada on January 31.
"The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government would like to express our deep gratitude to the Egyptian authorities and the Chinese embassies in Egypt, Paris and Zurich for their full support and assistance provided to the affected Hong Kong residents and their family members,蒅 a Government spokesman said.
䩕We would also thank the Travel Industry Council, the travel agent and the insurance companies concerned for their efforts in helping the tour members,蒅 the spokesman said.
The spokesman said all relevant Government departments would continue to make every effort to help the injured and the bereaved.
The Education and Manpower Bureau has been actively supporting those schools with students involved in the traffic accident.
Educational Psychologists and school development officers have teamed up with the School Crisis Management Team to render assistance and counselling service to students and teachers in need through debriefing and small group counselling. Support measures will continue.
Educational Psychologists reminded parents and teachers to be watchful for the emotion of their children and students and to seek further professional support, if necessary.
The Immigration Department's hotline has so far received 16 requests for assistance in relation to the accident. Hong Kong people who need help may contact the department's 24-hour hotline (852) 1868. The Social Welfare Department's 24-hour dedicated hotline (6293 0120) also received 18 requests or enquiries in relation to the accident.
Ends/Monday, February 6, 2006
Issued at HKT 18:49
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