Taiwan told to explain 'snub' over rescue team
Officials and legislators demanded yesterday that Taiwan explain its treatment of a Hong Kong earthquake rescue team.
The 16 firefighters and ambulance workers are expected to return today after doing just four hours' searching in the devastated town of Hsin Chuang.
The rescuers were told on Thursday they had arrived too late and that their equipment was no use.
And they were accused by Taiwanese officials of going to bed hours after they arrived instead of heading straight for a disaster site.
Legislators demanded an investigation into the controversy.
The Security Bureau approached Chung Hwa Travel Service, Taiwan's de facto diplomatic mission, to seek an explanation.
'Before the team left Hong Kong, they were told they would be welcome and were issued urgent travel documents to fly to Taipei,' a bureau spokesman said.
Last night, a bureau spokeswoman said an explanation had been received from Taiwan envoy Cheng An-kuo, who heads the Chung Hwa Travel Service, but she refused to say what it was.
'As the team was sent to Hsin Chuang to join the rescue plan, we do not consider it has been cold-shouldered,' the spokeswoman said.
Mr Cheng, speaking last night, also denied the team had been snubbed.
'Different rescue expertise may be needed for different areas. There are absolutely no political reasons behind this.' The SAR team had packed its bags and equipment yesterday morning and were preparing to leave when they were sent to Hsin Chuang. They found no survivors but offered counselling to several families of victims and helped clear debris.
SAR officials voiced surprise at the way the team had been treated.
'In such large-scale rescue operations it is possible there will still be survivors five to seven days after the disaster has first struck,' Director of Fire Services John Tsang Kwong-yu said.
'We have rendered our assistance in the quickest time available.' Government officials said Taiwan seemed to have changed its mind about what the team should do. 'The firemen expected to start rescue work immediately they arrived in Taiwan,' a government source said.
'You'd better ask them [the Taiwan authorities] why things have changed.' Another official denied the reason for the delay in the Hong Kong team's arrival had been the need to clear the operation with Beijing.
'There is no need for the Beijing authorities to approve or give any directions. We only informed them,' he said.
Legislator Emily Lau Wai-hing said the initial confusion qualified for an investigation into the conduct of the SAR Government over the affair.
Democratic Party legislator and Legco's security panel chairman James To Kun-sun said the Government had shown inexperience. 'They need to review procedures and co-ordination from when decisions are made to mobilisation.'
