Writethru: Chinese top leaders demand immediate assistance to Hong Kong tourists injured in Egypt

China's top leaders, including President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao and Vice President Zeng Qinghong, have required all departments concerned to make every effort to save the Hong Kong tourists injured in an Egyptian bus accident on Tuesday, a press release from the Foreign Ministry said here on Wednesday.

The leaders, after learning about the tragedy, gave important instructions immediately, requiring all Chinese departments concerned, including the Foreign Ministry and the Chinese embassy in Egypt, to carry out close cooperation with the Egyptian side and make every effort to assist the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) government in the rescue work, take all necessary measures to save the injured Hong Kong compatriots, and properly handle the aftermath of the accident, the press release said.

The leaders also asked the Hong Kong SAR government to convey the central government's sincere condolences to relatives of the victims and consolations to the injured tourists.

A tour bus overturned on a highway in southern Egypt early Tuesday, killing 14 Hong Kong tourists on board and injuring 30 others, some seriously, Egyptian officials said earlier.

The bus was on the outskirts of the Red Sea resort of Hurghada, heading toward the ancient historic city of Luxor to the southwest, when it rolled over while speeding around a bend in the highway, according to Egyptian official news agency MENA.

The Chinese foreign ministry press release said the Chinese embassy in Egypt and consulate in Alexandria have started up the emergency response system and have joined hands with the Egyptian side and relevant departments of the Hong Kong SAR government in the rescue work.

Heads of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, or China's cabinet, also conveyed the central government's deep concerns on Wednesday to Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR Donald Tsang, according to the press release.

"The Chinese leaders are very much concerned about the event and have ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to make every effort to help all the Hong Kong people involved in the accident," a spokesman of the Office said earlier on Wednesday.

"Every compatriot from Hong Kong is a member of the great family of China," he said. "We express our deep sorrow and sympathy over the misery they have suffered during the Spring Festival, a time for family reunions of the Chinese."

All concerned central government departments and Chinese embassies and consulates abroad will continue to help the government of the Hong Kong SAR in ensuring good treatment for the injured tourists and dealing with the aftermath of the accident properly, he said.

On Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said senior officials of the ministry had called the Egyptian ambassador to China, urging the Egyptian side to offer timely help and properly handle the aftermath.

The tourists left Hong Kong on Friday for a 10-day tour in Egypt. Hong Kong Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee said on Wednesday that two immigration officers would go to Cairo to look after five seriously injured tourists in the accident, while two others will go to Hurghada where most of the injured were hospitalized.

Lee said at a press briefing that the four immigration officers had set out for Egypt and would arrive later on Wednesday.

Of the 30 injured, the five seriously wounded have been hospitalized in Cairo, 18 are receiving treatment at Hurghada, and the seven others who were less injured have been discharged from hospital, according to Lee.

Source: Xinhua