After an initial assessment of the situation in Sichuan province, Hong Kong Hospital Authority (HA) announced?on Sunday that a medical team is on the way to Sichuan in two separate groups to support the mainland health authorities and medical institutions.

The team comprises 19 doctors, nurses and allied health professionals in emergency medicine, orthopaedics, anaesthesiology and infection control.

The first group, a three-member team of specialists in infection control led by Professor Ho Pak-leung of the University of Hong Kong, departed on Sunday. The second group of health care professionals will depart on Monday for Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan Province.

HA Chairman Anthony Wu expressed his gratitude to the departing staff members and volunteers for their willingness and commitment to serve in this disaster. He also thanked other staff members who will stay in Hong Kong for their extra effort in taking up the work of the colleagues being deployed to work in Sichuan.

"Meanwhile, there are also tens of HA staff members who have gone to Sichuan under the deployment of various emergency relief organizations. I would like to thank all these volunteers and the medical team members for volunteering to provide support to the mainland. They symbolize the care and concern of the entire HA for the earthquake victims," added Wu.

HA Chief Executive Shane Solomon thanked the HA Initial Assessment Team led by HA Chief Manager (Infection, Emergency and Contingency) Liu Shao-haei, for their effort and hard work during the last three days, which helped map out the support in need by mainland hospitals.

Solomon said the medical team will stay in Sichuan for about seven to 10 days.

"A second medical team will be drawn up soon to relieve this team and continue our support to the Mainland if needed," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency May 18, 2008)