Hong Kong will send another search and rescue team to Sichuan Province to help earthquake victims, Chief Executive Donald Tsang said Thursday, adding that more manpower and resources will be deployed if required.

Speaking at his Legislative Council question-and-answer session, Tsang said the volunteer team of government officers led by a Fire Services Department senior divisional officer, and an initial assessment team of the Hospital Authority, have arrived in Sichuan Province. Taking their initial assessment into consideration, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government will send another 20-member rescue team Thursday night.

Thanking lawmakers for their swift approval of 300 million HK dollars (38.51 million U.S. dollars) to help the quake victims, Tsang called on Hong Kong people to help the country overcome this difficult time.

On inflation, Tsang said rising fuel prices have triggered a wave of public transport fare-adjustment applications, while rising food costs are adversely affecting lower-income families.

He said the Financial Secretary has introduced measures to alleviate the burden, reiterating the HKSAR government will be cautious in handling fare-rise applications and will balance public and shareholder interests.

He said the Consumer Council will conduct price surveys and urged political parties, lawmakers, community groups and the media to do similar monitoring work.

Although it is impossible to eliminate inflation in a free market, the HKSAR government will adopt an active approach in tackling the problem, he said. More concrete measures will be outlined in his coming Policy Address. He said every measure must comply with market principles, adding he had reservations about the suggestion of offering long-term transport subsidies.

Turning to the proposed new competition law, he said the HKSAR government has launched a public consultation and hopes a consensus will be reached on the issue soon.

(Xinhua News Agency May 15, 2008)