The Chinese central government has ordered immediate help to the Hong Kong tourists injured in Egypt, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said in Beijing Tuesday.

Kong said the State Council was very much concerned about the bus accident, which killed 14 and injured 30 other tourists from Hong Kong in Egypt, and ordered the Foreign Ministry to take immediate actions and "spare no efforts" to rescue the injured.

The bus, carrying the tourists from the Red Sea resort of Hurghada to the southern Nile city of Luxor, was going over speed when it dashed out from the road.

Kong said the Foreign Ministry has asked the Chinese embassy and consulate in Egypt to start up an emergency response system, contact relevant Egyptian departments and take immediate actions to rescue the injured and preserve the bodies of the dead.

"Key officials of the Chinese embassy and consulate in Egypt are now rushing to the accident spot to direct and coordinate rescue efforts," Kong said.

Senior officials of the Foreign Ministry have also called the Egyptian ambassador in China to urge the Egyptian side to offer timely help and properly handle the aftermath, Kong said.

After the accident, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region(HKSAR) government immediately contacted the Chinese embassy in Egypt, consulate in Alexandria, the Foreign Ministry and the Office of the Commissioner of the Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong, asking for emergent help.

The tourists left Hong Kong on Friday for a 10-day tour in Egypt. The 30 wounded in the crash had already been taken to hospitals in Hurghada, one of Egypt's most popular holiday destinations.

Chinese Ambassador Wu Sike and several other embassy officials have visited survivors.
 
(Xinhua News Agency February 1, 2006)