HONG KONG, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Office of the Commissioner of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has pledged all-out efforts to help Hong Kong compatriots on a cruise ship quarantined in Japan.
While meeting HKSAR lawmaker Vincent Cheng Wing-shun on Thursday, Deputy Commissioner Song Ru'an conveyed the message from Commissioner Xie Feng.
Song said the office immediately worked with the Immigration Department of the HKSAR government and the Chinese embassy in Japan to provide support for Chinese nationals including Hong Kong compatriots on the coronavirus-hit cruise ship quarantined in Japan after learning of the event on Feb. 5.
As some ran out of prescription drugs, the embassy made emergency arrangements to deliver the drugs to them in time, Song said. After the event occurred, the embassy immediately got in contact with compatriots involved and asked the Japanese side to guarantee their rights and interests.
Song said the office attaches great significance to the matter and will continue to work with the HKSAR government and the embassy to help Hong Kong compatriots back home safely as soon as possible.
The ship named Diamond Princess has been kept in quarantine after the sudden outbreak of the novel coronavirus. According to data from the Chinese embassy, there are more than 300 Chinese passengers on board the cruise ship, including 22 from the mainland, 260 from Hong Kong, five from Macao and 24 from Taiwan.
