Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said Monday China strongly condemns the violent explosions on Indonesia's resort island of Bali on Saturday night which left at least 183 dead and more than 300 injured.

Zhang made the remarks when asked to comment on whether there were any victims of Chinese nationality identified. She said China is shocked and deeply concerned and reiterated that China has always opposed terrorism in any form.

It has been reported that there were some Hong Kong residents and Taiwan compatriots injured or missing in the blast and the Chinese Embassy in Indonesia is gathering information and is ready to provide assistance, Zhang said.

So far there has been no report that a Chinese national was killed, Xinhua reported yesterday. According to the report from Bali, two Chinese mainlanders suffered minor injuries during the bloody bomb blasts.

A group of 33 Chinese tourists were traveling on the island when the explosions took place. Only one of them suffered minor injuries. The group left Bali on Monday, the report said.

A man from Hong Kong was hospitalized at one of the six local hospitals that received bomb victims. He is in good condition and scheduled to depart Bali for Hong Kong today, Xinhua reported.

A spokesman from the Hong Kong Rugby Association said on Sunday that nine Hong Kong rugby players were missing in the explosions and two referees and a player's wife were injured.

The nine missing players had gone to the nightclub that was hit by the blast on Saturday and the organization has lost contact with them.

Indonesian authorities yesterday lowered an earlier death toll to 183. Doctors earlier yesterday put the number at 188. The head of the Bali health office, Made Molin Yudiasa, said the discrepancy "could have been because of human error."

Bali police said yesterday they had names of individuals linked to the blasts, but declined to give any names or details.

(China Daily October 15, 2002)