HK$172m donated to Yaan earthquake relief efforts

About HK$172 million from Hong Kong corporations and individuals had been donated to Yaan earthquake relief efforts in Sichuan province, according to the central government's liaison office.

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Temporary dormitories at Tianquan Middle School, Sichuan. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 11:03am, 1 May 2013Updated: 11:05pm, 1 May 2013

About HK$172 million from Hong Kong corporations and individuals had been donated to Yaan earthquake relief efforts in Sichuan province, according to the central government's liaison office.

The figure comes as party mouthpiece People's Daily said a majority of Hongkongers were in favour of funneling HK$100 million of public funds into relief efforts. The donation, proposed by Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, was delayed last week amid concerns that it could be misused by corrupt mainland officials.

Thousands of South China Morning Post readers have voted "no" to the proposal in an informal poll, but state media said Hongkongers were still willing to help their fellow countrymen in need.

A story by the China News Service said HK$172 million had been donated to earthquake relief by corporations and individuals in Hong Kong, citing the liaison office in Hong Kong.

Scholar and poet Jao Tsung-I was among them, said the report. While still grieving for his wife who recently died, Jao gave HK$500,000 to the quake cause.

An anonymous Hong Kong man in his 80s, arriving to the liaison office via tram, handed over a HK$5 million check, said the report.