Confusion over return of bodies

THE repatriation of bodies of victims of last week's Phnom Penh air crash was degenerating last night into painful confusion for relatives.

Hong Kong resident Jason Lau said he had seen no sign of the remains of his mother-in-law, Li Uk-chun, after being told by Vietnam Airlines officials to wait in Ho Chi Minh City.

'I've been waiting all day and we've heard nothing, so I guess we're going to have to stay and keep hoping nothing is wrong,' Mr Lau said.

'Some bodies have been brought back from Phnom Penh, but not all yet. We were expecting them all back today.

'We are all very nervous because some people have told us the Cambodians won't release the bodies without identification first. But the officials here just tell us to wait. It is very confusing.' Vietnamese military aircraft were yesterday ferrying the bodies to an air-conditioned warehouse within a secure compound at Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Son Nhut airport.

Fears of storage conditions in Cambodia and Vietnam is causing extra trauma for many Hong Kong relatives.