Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnamese Government is working closely with theUK authorities to identify the victims of the shocking October 23 lorryincident in Essex, Minister and Chairman of the Government Office Mai Tien Dungsaid on November 5.

Chairing a press conference in Hanoi following the Government’s regular meetingfor October, Dung said that Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has sent hisheartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, and committed to doinghis utmost to share this great loss.

While in Japan to attend the coronation ceremony of Japanese Emperor Naruhito,PM Phuc on October 25 directed competent ministries and sectors, including theMinistry of Public Security, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and theVietnamese representative agencies in the UK, to carry out investigations and coordinatewith the UK authorities to handle the case.

On November 3, he sent his deep condolences to thebereaved families in the incident while in Bangkok to attend the 35th ASEAN Summit, he added.

Currently, the identification of thevictims is being carried out in a prudent fashion, he said, stressing that theidentities will be announced at the earliest possible when the UK authoritiesrelease them.

“Under any circumstance, we must try our best to carry out citizen protection.This is the consistent policy of the Party and State”, Dung stated.

He said that PM Phuc ordered competent authorities to urgently investigate thecase and mete out strict punishment to the wrongdoers.

“This is a lesson for us in migration management. Vietnam strongly condemns thetrafficking of illegal immigrants, and calls on the international community to intensifymeasures to prevent and fight such crimes. Vietnam pledges coordination withauthorities of other countries to punish those who commit such illegalactivities and prevent similar incidents in the future”, Dung stressed.

At the press conference, Deputy Minister of Public Security Nguyen Duy Ngocsaid that based on information provided by families in Nghe An, Ha Tinh andQuang Binh provinces, 35 cases show signs that their relatives may be among the39 victims.

Meanwhile, Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung saidthat Vietnamese citizens who want to work abroad must abide by the Law onVietnamese Guest Workers.

Currently, there are 400 businesses in Vietnam licensed to send Vietnameseguest workers abroad. In the past three years, more than 100,000 people weresent to work in the Republic of Korea, Japan, China’s Taiwan and Malaysia.

Dung suggested local people should go to work overseas via legal channels and notattempt illegal and perilous journeys./.