The Chinese embassy in Kuala Lumpur has not ascertained whether there were any Chinese citizens on board Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, when it went down in Ukrainian territory, killing all 298 passengers and crew.

The embassy is closely monitoring  developments related to the downing of the passenger plane that was due to arrive at the city's international airport Friday morning.

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As of 2 a.m. Kuala Lumpur, the embassy has not received reports of any China nationals having boarded the flight that left Shipol airport in Amsterdam Thursday at about noon time.

UPDATE: Reports from Hong Kong now say one HK resident was on board MH17, as confrmed by HK immigration authorities. 

Meanwhile, the Chinese government has expressed shock at the news about the tragedy in Ukraine.

Speaking from Brasilia where President Xi Jinping is attending the BRICS summit, foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said the Chinese government conveys its "deep condolences to the victims and our sincere sympathies to their families."

Qin said the foreign ministry and relevant embassies have activated an emergency mechanism to respond to inquiries about possibility of Chinese citizens having on the flight.  

"We will closely follow the incident, keep close contact with relevant parties, and take corresponding measures," Qui said in a foreign ministry statement.

Flight MH17, a Boeing 777 aircraft, was en route to Kuala Lumpur when it went down on Ukrainian territory near the Russian border.

Aviation and security officials from the United States and Ukraine have stated it was not an accident, but that the plane was shot down.

As to where the missile that brought it down came from, it is not clear as of the moment.

TagsMalaysia Airlines, MH17, Kuala Lumpur