Pledge of support: Chief Executive Donald Tsang says efforts are underway to locate Hong Kong people whose friends and relatives have failed to contact them since the Sichuan earthquake.

The Hong Kong SAR Government and Mainland authorities will pull all their efforts to locate and help Hong Kong people who might be stranded in Sichuan, Chief Executive Donald Tsang has pledged.

Speaking to reporters before leaving for Singapore, Mr Tsang said he is highly concerned about the safety of Hong Kong people in Sichuan. On a positive note, contact has been made with a Police couple who went to Sichuan to take wedding photos. But efforts are underway to locate those Hong Kong people whose friends and relatives have failed to contact them since the earthquake.

The second batch of the 20-member search and rescue team from has arrived at Hanwang in Mianzhu and joined the search and rescue work.

The team has so far recovered eight bodies from the rubble of the collapsed office building. It is believed that 16 people are trapped inside.

Meanwhile, a 60-year-old woman who was injured in the disaster has returned to Hong Kong for further treatment.

Requests for help

The Immigration Department has so far received 119 calls for assistance and 391 enquiries for help contacting friends and relatives in Sichuan. Among the 95 Hong Kong people who had reportedly lost contact with their families, 86 have re-established contact.

The department and the Hong Kong Government office in Beijing will maintain close ties with Mainland authorities to follow up on the remaining nine cases and render all practical assistance to Hong Kong people in need. Those who require help may call (852) 1868.

As at 5pm today the Social Welfare Department had received 80 applications, and granted 52, for public subscription permits to raise funds for earthquake victims.

On search and rescue operations, Mr Tsang said he will closely monitor the situation, adding two volunteer teams of government officers and a team of medical experts from the Hospital Authority have arrived in Sichuan to help with rescue work in earthquake-stricken areas.

Mr Tsang flew to Singapore today where he will meet with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and senior government officials. He will also tour a reclaimed water plant and  tourism and environmental facilities before returning to Hong Kong on May 18.