Roundup: HK People Urged to Keep Close Watch on Development of US IncidentsIn view of the incidents that took place in New York and Washington and the air traffic situation in the United States, a government spokesman Wednesday morning called on Hong Kong people who plan to travel to theUnited States and those who are visiting the country to keep a close watch on the development and to pay attention to their personal safety. Hong Kong residents who need help may contact the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit of the Immigration Department at 2829 3010 during office hours and 2543 1958 outside office hours. They can also contact the Chinese Consulate General in New York (1-212) 502 0270 and the Chinese Embassy in Washington (1-202) 338 6688. The government spokesman also said early this morning that all flights bound for the United States taking off from the Hong Kong International Airport have been canceled. The Airport Police and the Aviation Security Company have stepped up security at the airport. As at now, a total of six flights have been affected, including four passenger flights and two cargo flights. The spokesman also confirmed that the Emergency Monitoring and Support Center has come into operation and is closely monitoring the situation. A government release cited the Hong Kong Administrative Secretary Donald Tsang as saying "words can hardly describe my shock at today's terrible events involving terrorist attacks in New York and also in Washington DC." Tsang made the statement during his visit in the United States Tuesday (September 11, Washington Time) immediately after the terrorist attacks in the United States. "My delegation left New York this morning about 7.10 a.m. and we landed here in Washington D C about an hour later. I heard about the two planes crashing into the World Trade Center shortly after it happened, about 9 a.m. Obviously our official program in Washington today has been overtaken by these events." The whole of the Administration here in Washington is in a state of emergency in dealing with this devastating tragedy, Tsang said. "For my part , and I believe that I speak for all the people of Hong Kong, I am deeply saddened and aggrieved at such a terrible loss of life. We express our profound sympathy for the American people. Terrorist attacks of any such kind are abhorrent to human decency," he said. |
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