Rescue teams from the government and the Hospital Authority (HA) arrived in Sichuan province yesterday to provide relief to earthquake victims.

Headed by HA's chief manager Liu Shao-hei, a team of four experts, including three orthopedic surgeons, departed at about 10am yesterday to West China Hospital where a large number of victims are being treated.

Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee meets with a volunteer government rescue team, which leaves for Sichuan today. CNS

HA chairman Anthony Wu said orthopedic surgeons are much needed in the quake-stricken areas.

Liu told Hong Kong reporters that Chief Executive Donald Tsang had asked the team to convey Hongkongers' sympathy to the victims.

"We are to carry out our mission on behalf of all Hong Kong people," Liu said.

The authority will send another team of seven experts to the areas next week.

Earlier in the morning, a 20-member rescue team comprising 15 firemen, three ambulance men, a doctor and a nurse, arrived in Mianzhu county.

The team recovered two corpses from under the rubble of a collapsed office building, Tsang said in a Legislative Council question-and-answer session.

Another 20-member search and rescue team from the Hong Kong government had also departed for Chengdu at 7:25pm. The team comprises 17 firemen and three ambulance men.

"The government will send more people there if that is necessary to assist mainland authorities in carrying out rescue operations," Tsang said.

"Each rescue team member carries with them the love of Hong Kong people. They have the backing of the SAR government, the LegCo and the public. I believe that people living on the mainland will appreciate our sincerity," Tsang said.

He also told legislators that state leaders had expressed their gratitude to the support of Hong Kong people.

He praised journalists reporting in the quake areas for their professionalism.

"They have made it possible for us to learn about the situation in the areas and to witness the rescue efforts," he said.

Relief group Red Cross has also sent a team of nine people to Sichuan.

Social workers and clinical psychologists of the Social Welfare Department are ready to provide counseling and other welfare services to Hong Kong residents who have been affected by the earthquake. Those in need of assistance can call the department's hotline at 2343 2255.

As at 5pm yesterday, the Immigration Department had received 106 requests for assistance and 363 inquiries concerning the earthquake. Most of the callers had problems contacting their relatives on the mainland. Seventy of them have been able to get a hold of their family members since.

(HK Edition 05/16/2008 page1)