(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-05-19 23:28

HONG KONG  -- Hong Kong Hospital Authority (HA) announced Wednesday that an initial assessment team will depart for Chengdu of Sichuan Province Thursday to help victims of a severe earthquake.

According to a press release from the authority, the team, led by Liu Shao-haei, Chief Manager (Infection, Emergency and Contingency) will depart for Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan, in preparation for the deployment of a volunteer medical team from HA to help handle the casualties of the earthquake, in particular at West China Hospital.

HA Chairman Anthony Wu said that every member of the HA family is deeply saddened by the terrible tragedy and many colleagues have been asking what they can do to help.

"We have been discussing among senior executives and with the Government to see what we can do and one of the challenges is understanding the need so we can respond in the best way possible, " said Wu.

The team will assess the need of the hospital in various clinical specialties and carry out a situation assessment on the need of further emergency deployment.

"A medical team is getting prepared and will be dispatched when needed," said HA Chief Executive Shane Solomon, after meeting the initial assessment team members with Anthony Wu at his office to discuss the support they will need for the mission.

HA also appealed to staff members to donate to a designated bank account to support the Mainland's rescue and recovery operation.

The quake, measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale, rocked the Wenchuan County of China's Sichuan province at 2:28 p.m. on Monday, leaving over 14,000 people dead.