Questions raised over mainland role in rescue and Li Gang's appearance

The mainland authorities' response to the accident, including the deployment of salvage ships, has raised questions, given that the government showed it was more than capable of handling the disaster on its own.

Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, in particular, was criticised for allowing a senior figure from the central government's liaison office to play a key role.

Last night, Leung said the government's request for help from mainland ships was because of the many casualties. He said the priority was to use Hong Kong's rescue forces in any accident.

Another curious feature was a headline that state broadcaster China Central Television ran in its main newscast last night. "Comrades [President] Hu Jintao , [Premier] Wen Jiabao and [Vice-President] Xi Jinping … issue important instructions, ordering the Hong Kong government to spare no effort in searching for missing persons, treating the injured and comforting their relatives."

The CCTV report was preceded by the unusual appearance of a Beijing liaison office official with Leung on his first hospital visit hours after the National Day tragedy on Monday night.

Li Gang, deputy head of the liaison office, spoke for two minutes at Queen Mary Hospital in Pok Fu Lam, detailing how he felt and what Guangdong authorities would do to help.

Li - who has no role in the city's administration - went a step further, becoming the first public figure to confirm deaths. "We are deeply sorry about the deceased citizens," he said.