Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Wu Sike (L) talks with an injured tourist from Hong Kong of China at a hospital in Hurghada, an Egyptian Red Sea resort, Feb. 1, 2006. (Xinhua photo)

CAIRO, Feb. 1 (Xinhuanet) -- Both Egyptian and Chinese officials on Wednesday rushed to help the Hong Kong tourists injured during a deadly bus crash in southeastern Egypt on Tuesday.  

    The accident, which occurred on the highway from Egypt's Red Sea resort of Hurghada to the main southern tour city of Luxor, claimed the lives of 14 tourists from Hong Kong, leaving some 30 others injured.

    While inspecting the injured in Hurghada general hospital, Egyptian Tourism Minister Zuheir Garana told reporters that the most important thing for his ministry at the moment is that "we will keep a close watch on the conditions of the injured and do whatever we can to help them until they recover and leave the hospital."

    Garana also promised to urge the Egyptian authorities to better enforce traffic regulations so that "such fatal accidents will not occur in the future."

    Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Wu Sike, who had rushed to Hurghada late Tuesday, asked the hospital to take whatever necessary measures to treat the injured.

    Ambassador Wu also asked the injured to take a good rest while being treated and to ask the Chinese embassy for help if there is any difficulty.

    China's top leaders, including President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao and Vice President Zeng Qinghong, have required all departments concerned to make every effort to save the lives of the injured tourists, a press release from the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in Beijing on Wednesday.

   

An Egyptian tourism official (2nd R) visits injured tourists from Hong Kong of China at a hospital in Hurghada, an Egyptian Red Sea resort, Feb. 1, 2006. (Xinhua photo)

 The leaders, after learning about the tragedy, gave important instructions immediately, requiring all Chinese departments concerned, including the Foreign Ministry and the Chinese embassy in Egypt, said the press release.

    They also asked the departments concerned to carry out close cooperation with the Egyptian side and make every effort to assist the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) government in the rescue work, take all necessary measures to save the injured Hong Kong compatriots and properly handle the aftermath of the accident, the press release added.

    The leaders, meanwhile, asked the Hong Kong SAR government to convey the central government's sincere condolences to relatives of the victims and consolations to the injured tourists. 

    In the latest developments of the matter, at least six of the most severely injured tourists have been transferred to two hospitals in Cairo for further treatment and another three tourists slightly injured were expected to fly back to Cairo to meet their relatives later Wednesday.

    Meanwhile, six Hong Kong Immigration Officers and medical staff arrived in Cairo on Wednesday afternoon to help the victims of the bus crash.

    Two of the Immigration Officers and one medical staff are on their way to visit six injured Hong Kong residents who are being treated in two hospitals in Cairo. It is learnt that their conditions are serious.

    The other two Immigration Officers and one medical staff will proceed to Hurghada to provide necessary assistance to those hospitalized in a local hospital.

    Twelve other injured have been discharged from hospital.  

    A government spokesman said in Hong Kong that the SAR government would continue to offer all practicable assistance to the concerned Hong Kong residents and their families.  

    "We will continue to keep in close touch with our embassy, the Travel Industry Council and the travel agent concerned to follow-up the case," he said.

    So far, the Immigration Department's hotline has received five requests for assistance in relation to the accident, it was learnt.Enditem