Life of Guangzhou - HK Dispatches Volunteer Teams to Quake-hit Sichuan

Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam- kuen said yesterday three Hong Kong volunteer teams had been sent to help quake victims, two from the government and one from the Hospital Authority.

Speaking at the Legislative Council, Tsang said the first rescue team, which left in the early hours of the morning, is made up of 15 firemen, three ambulance men, a medical officer and a registered nurse.

"The first team is now in Mianzhu county helping local people [to] search for survivors in a collapsed four-story office block. They managed to find two people but unfortunately they were dead," Tsang said. The second team composed of 17 firemen and three ambulance men, he added, would leave in the evening.

"We would send more people and resources if needed," the chief executive said.

The Hospital Authority sent a four- member team to help treat earthquake casualties in a hospital in Chengdu.

The team, which included a couple of professors, was experienced in dealing with bone fractures.

Authority spokesman Leung Pak- yin said more orthopedic surgeons were needed in the disaster zone. He said the team will assess what other medical personnel may be required.

Authority chairman Anthony Wu Ting-yuk said he was liaising with hospitals in the stricken area to ascertain the medical personnel to be put on a second medical team due to fly out next week.

The three Hong Kong teams took approximately four tonnes of equipment including life detectors and masonry cutting tools.

(By Bonnie Chen)

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