Members of the Hong Kong SAR search and rescue team embrace with their families upon arrival at the Hong Kong International Airport yesterday. The team had just completed a one-week earthquake relief mission in Sichuan province. China Daily

The SAR search and rescue team returned home yesterday after having assisted the relief efforts in Sichuan province for a week, an experience which they described as unforgettable.

The team, consisting of 34 firemen, eight medical staff, and one information officer, was greeted by their family members and Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee at the airport.

The rescuers, who found 24 corpses and pulled out a woman alive, found the team's mission meaningful. However, for their family members, having missed their loved ones is a tough experience.

Bobo Ng, wife of one of the firemen for 22 years, said she had spent sleepless nights over the past week looking out for the most updated news on the earthquake with her 17-year-old son.

The team members said they were thankful to the support from their families and the community.

One of them, Fire Services Department assistant divisional officer Cheng Woon-kit, said the whole team stuck together despite difficulties encountered during the mission.

"The bad smell of the corpses is killing. But that didn't stop us from proceeding," he said through his tears.

Tearful organizer of the "Artistes 512 Fund Raising Campaign" Andy Lau briefs the media about the campaign yesterday. Over 100 artistes from the mainland, Taiwan and Hong Kong will deliver a fundraising show on June 1 at the Pop TV Arena in West Kowloon. Edmond Tang

Fireman Lui King-man, to whom the mission was the first one outside Hong Kong, said he often thought of his family "but had to suppress the emotion (so as to focus on the rescue efforts)."

"We continued to work very hard (even though all the people we found were dead). We did not give up," he said.

Lee said he was impressed by the bravery and professionalism the team has displayed in accomplishing the "extremely difficult yet meaningful mission".

Director of Fire Services Lo Chun-hung said the team members will meet with occupational therapists today, and a reception dinner will be hosted on Sunday.

He said the government will not send another rescue team to the quake area.

Meanwhile, community support to the earthquake victim continues.

Showbiz celebrities have organized an "Artistes 512 Fund Raising Campaign".

They will hold fundraising events in major shopping malls and collect cards with messages from community members to the quake victims. The cards will be delivered to Sichuan when a group of celebrities visit the province end of this month.

A variety show will be organized at the Pop TV Arena in West Kowloon on June 1. Admission fees collected will be donated to the victims.

Meanwhile, relief group Oxfam Hong Kong plans to train Sichuan residents to be counselors, so as to assist the victims in their recovery.

The group is currently providing milk and water resistant tents to the victims.

It has been raining in Xiushui, where temperature changes drastically with the span of a single day, the group said.

Stronger tents in the province are in short supply. It is estimated that 280,000 more tents are needed.

On a more positive note, the group's communication officer Keith Wong said some of the victims have already taken the initiative to move on with their lives.

"Some of the farmers have started cultivating their lands and some are feeding their livestocks with maize that they found among the rubble," he said.

(HK Edition 05/23/2008 page1)