Chinese work panel to deal with aftermath of balloon crash in Egypt

（Xinhua） 08:27, February 28, 2013

Lee Kwong Wing, senior official at the Hong Kong Immigration Department, receives interview about the hot air balloon crash in Cairo, Egypt, on Feb. 27, 2013. A Chinese Foreign Ministry work panel arrived in Egypt on Wednesday to deal with the aftermath of a deadly hot air balloon crash, in the wake of nine Hong Kong tourists that died in the tragedy in the country. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

CAIRO, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese Foreign Ministry work panel arrived in Egypt on Wednesday to deal with the aftermath of a deadly hot air balloon crash, in the wake of nine Hong Kong tourists dying in the tragedy in the country.

Meanwhile, officers from the Hong Kong Immigration Department and the tourist company's staff members also flied to Egypt to help.

Speaking to reporters, Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Song Aiguo said: "We have a delegation from Beijing sent by the Chinese government and a delegation from Hong Kong. We have to coordinate and work together to deal with the tragedy."

Since Tuesday's explosion, the Chinese side has been contacting Egypt's health ministry and tourism ministry as well as the Luxor local government, he said, noting that the Chinese government wants to see swift actions.

Particularly, the ambassador said the Chinese side has contacted the Egyptian side for the procedures of transferring the victims' bodies to China.

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