******************************************************
Thirty-nine Hong Kong residents and their family members arrived in Guangzhou early this morning (April 25) after the Central Government made arrangements for them to leave the Solomon Islands.
Among them, 17 Hong Kong residents and 20 accompanying family members returned to Hong Kong by coach from Guangzhou this afternoon. The group is from 12 families. Seventeen of them are children aged under 12.
They were greeted at the Lok Ma Chau Control Point by Assistant Director of Immigration Mr David Chiu Wai-kai, Assistant Director of Home Affairs Mr Tse Man-shing, and Chief Social Work Officer Ms Cecilla Li.
The remaining two Hong Kong residents had left the group and returned to Hong Kong by themselves.
Immediately after they were flown from Papua New Guinea on a chartered flight, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong arranged for them to take a short rest at a Guangzhou hotel before coming to Hong Kong.
These 37 people will stay with their relatives and friends in Hong Kong. At their request, the Home Affairs Department has granted emergency relief of $8,000 in cash from the General Chinese Charities Fund to each family to meet their immediate needs.
The Social Welfare Department will provide emotional support and appropriate welfare services to the families who are in need.
A spokesman for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government said the Central Government was highly concerned about the safety of Chinese citizens in the Solomon Islands.
"The Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the HKSAR and our Embassy in Papua New Guinea have been liaising closely with us to provide assistance to affected Hong Kong residents and ensure their smooth and early return to Hong Kong," the spokesman said.
The Immigration Department has so far received four requests for assistance from Hong Kong residents. It has been keeping in touch with the family members concerned in Hong Kong to offer assistance.
"We will continue to monitor the situation closely to provide all practicable assistance to the affected Hong Kong residents," the spokesman said.
Hong Kong residents who need assistance may contact the Chinese Embassy in Papua New Guinea on its 24-hour hotline - (675) 686 2675 or call the Immigration Department's 24-hour hotline - (852) 1868.
Ends/Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Issued at HKT 16:59
NNNN
