Passengers step out from a train upon arriving from New Delhi at New Jalpaiguri railway station after the government eased a nationwide lockdown imposed as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus, on the outskirts of Siliguri on May 13, 2020. (DIPTENDU DUTTA / AFP)

HONG KONG - China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government is arranging chartered flights to bring back Hong Kong residents stranded in India, and the first flight is tentatively scheduled to depart New Delhi for Hong Kong on Sunday at the earliest, a HKSAR government spokesman said Wednesday.

As of May 10, the Immigration Department of the HKSAR government had successfully contacted about 3,500 Hong Kong residents stranded in India. They are currently scattered in different locations in India, the spokesman said.

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As of May 10, the Immigration Department of the HKSAR government had successfully contacted about 3,500 Hong Kong residents stranded in India

The spokesman said that the first chartered flight will assist Hong Kong residents who are now located in New Delhi, the capital of India, and those in its surrounding areas with special needs such as people with illness, pregnant women and children, as well as family members travelling with them.

The chartered flight is tentatively planned to depart New Delhi for Hong Kong on Sunday at the earliest. However, the exact date and time of departure are still subject to the approval time of and the facilitation provided by the local government, land traffic situations and relevant permissions received by airlines, the spokesman said.

The final number of passengers to be carried by the chartered flight is yet to be confirmed, though it is expected to be over 200, the spokesman said.

Upon their arrival in Hong Kong International Airport, the returnees will proceed to AsiaWorld-Expo for compulsory COVID-19 testing, and then sent to a quarantine center for a 14-day compulsory quarantine.

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The spokesman said the HKSAR government understands that there are still many Hong Kong residents stranded in different areas of India, and will continue to liaise with them closely and assist them in returning to Hong Kong in an orderly manner in batches subject to the circumstances. The government will contact them as soon as further information is available.