A CRITICALLY injured woman was last night receiving urgent treatment in a Hong Kong hospital following two dramatic emergency flights - costing almost $400,000 and covering 3,000 km - from northern China to the territory.
Dunhuang Airport, which was closed for maintenance, was especially re-opened for two hours yesterday to allow a Hong Kong-based emergency rescue company to land a rented mainland military jet to pick up Wong Kit-mui, 22, and fly her to Shenzhen.
She was then transferred to a helicopter for the 20-minute flight to Government Flying Service Headquarters at Kai Tak airport, where she was met by a doctor and paramedics who rushed her into a waiting ambulance.
Ms Wong's arrival back in the territory was a victory for her Wong Tai Sin family, who had battled for two weeks to bring their daughter home for urgent treatment. Ms Wong and some travelling companions were injured in a road accident on August 1.
The 3,000 km transfer had to be carried off with intense care and precision, as one bad move could have worsened Ms Wong's delicate condition. Her spine was badly injured in the accident, causing paralysis in the lower half of her body, and her conditiondeteriorated further after surgery at the Dunhuang City Hospital on August 3.
Ms Wong and nine companions were injured when their minibus was hit from behind by a bus and plunged down a deep trench before rolling.
While doctors in China and Hong Kong agreed it was vital to bring Ms Wong back to the territory for treatment, the closure of Dunhuang airport made it difficult.