Hongkong to assist in rescue operation. Photo: Reuters.
The government is planning to
donate HK$300-million to
help victims of the
earthquake on the mainland. The
Finance Committee will hold a
special meeting tomorrow
morning, to discuss the
funding request. A team - made up of firemen and health personnel - will be sent to the devastated area. The Immigration Department says it's received 44 requests for assistance from local
residents asking for
information about their
relatives in Sichuan. And so
far, some 13 have managed to
contact relatives. One woman,
however, was reported injured
in the quake but is in stable
condition. A representative
from the Hong Kong
government's office in Beijing
has gone to the hospital in
Chengdu to offer assistance.
Dragonair cancelled one flight
from Chengdu to Hong Kong this
morning, while one in the opposite direction has been postponed until tomorrow. Since yesterday, some 640 passengers have been affected by flight
disruptions. The airline says
it has special arrangements in
place to enable passengers to
alter their travel plans to
and from Chengdu. And, it will
waive all re-booking and
re-routing charges for tickets
issued before May 12. But
passengers must complete their
rearranged flights on or
before Thursday. Cathay
Pacific also had to delay one
London-bound flight which
would have flown over Sichuan,
and as a result cancelled two other long-haul flights.
