Hongkonger dies in Guangdong collision

Wallis Wang

A Hongkonger died and two others were injured in a traffic accident in Shaoguan, Guangdong, on Monday afternoon.

"The three Hong Kong residents were passengers in a mainland private car," the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong said yesterday.

"Upon learning of the incident, the GDETO deployed officers to Shaoguan to provide assistance to the residents and their families on the spot."

Sources said the accident occurred in Lechang - a county-level city under the administration of Shaoguan.

A Hong Kong couple and the wife's younger sister were heading to Hunan province with two mainlanders, including the driver, when the car collided with another car.

The wife died, while her husband and her sister were injured, sources said.

The two injured passengers were sent to Lechang Second People's Hospital.

Shaoguan authorities said last night that the two injured Hongkongers were not in life-threatening danger after treatment, and that it was suspected that the car was overtaking when it collided with the other car coming from the opposite direction.

The Hong Kong government said the vehicle is a mainland private car and not an online-hailed car, and that the case is being investigated by Shaoguan authorities.

Hong Kong travelers were reminded to call the Immigration Department's 24-hour hotline at (852) 1868, send WhatsApp messages to the department or submit an online assistance request form when they need help.

Part of the Beijing-Hong Kong and Macau Expressway connecting Shaoguan to Hunan and Hubei provinces was temporarily closed on December 16 due to the icy conditions and reopened on Monday afternoon - right before the accident.

In April, four Hong Kong passengers were killed in a car crash in Fujian. The driver, also a Hongkonger, was injured. The same month, two Hongkongers were injured and two mainlanders were killed in a crash in Shangri-La City, Yunnan province.

wallis.wang@singtaonewscorp.com