The volunteer team of Hong Kong government officers have arrived in Chengdu of Sichuan province to help with rescue work in earthquake-stricken areas, a government press release said on Thursday.

The team, led by a Fire Services Department Senior Divisional Officer, comprises 15 firefighters and three ambulancemen from the department's Special Rescue Squad, as well as staff from the Health and Information Services Departments.

According to a press release from the Information Services Department of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, the team left for Chengdu on Thursday morning with four tons of equipment including life detectors and masonry cutting machines. They will join local teams to start search and rescue work on arrival.

Hong Kong Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee has expressed his full support for the volunteer team. He said the HKSAR government will do everything possible to assist rescue work in quake-affected areas.

Hong Kong Immigration Department has so far received 106 calls for assistance and 363 inquires in the wake of the serious earthquake in southwest China's Sichuan Province. Most of the requests involved cases in which family members in Hong Kong failed to get in touch with their relatives on the Chinese mainland. Seventy Hong Kong residents have re-established contact with family members.

The department will maintain close ties with concerned departments on the Chinese mainland through the Hong Kong Office in Beijing to render help to Hong Kong people in need.

As of 5 p.m. Thursday, the Social Welfare Department has received 53 applications, and granted 21, for public subscription permits to raise funds for people affected by the earthquake in Sichuan.

(Xinhua News Agency May 15, 2008)