A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said here Sunday night that nine Chinese
had been confirmed dead as of 9:30 p.m. Sunday in Thailand after the fatal
tsunamis.
The nine dead include two from Jiangsu Province, one from InnerMongolia, four
from Hong Kong and two from Taiwan, said spokesman Kong Quan, quoting the latest
report from the Chinese embassy in Bangkok.
Two people from the Chinese mainland are hospitalized in Thailand and 15
others remain missing.
Another 60 from Hong Kong were also reported missing in Thailand, Indonesia
and other countries, according to the spokesman.
He said that Liao Hui, head of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the
State Council, phoned Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa Sunday afternoon, conveying
the concern of the Central Government and saying the Central Government fully
supports the government ofthe Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in its
rescue work.
The Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council had also expressed condolence
to families of the Taiwan victims, Kong said.
Meanwhile, relevant local governments had also expressed condolence to the
victims' families and provided assistance to them in dealing with the aftermath.
Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao have asked the Foreign
Ministry and Chinese embassies and consulates in related countries to make their
utmost effort to help Chinese citizens stranded.
As part of the emergency measures, Kong said, the Chinese embassy to Thailand
has established a service station at the international airport of Bangkok, to
serve Chinese people concerning accommodation and air ticket booking, among
others.