H.K. to stage weeklong donation drive for tsunami victims

Asian Economic News, Jan 10, 2005

HONG KONG, Dec. 30 Kyodo

Various political groups in Hong Kong are banding together to stage a weeklong donation drive for victims of the Asian earthquake and tsunami disaster, groups said Thursday.

Despite their different political orientations, the Democratic Party, the Liberal Party, the Article 45 Concern Group and 16 other groups are teaming up to gather donations from the public over the week from Friday.

The groups are also pleading for HK$100 million (around US$12.9 million) to be released from the government's emergency relief fund.

The government will also coordinate with the Hong Kong Red Cross, Oxfam Hong Kong, Salvation Army, U.N. Children's Fund, Medecins Sans Frontieres and World Vision to mobilize the public to donate, Pamela Tan of the Civil Affairs Bureau said. Details will be announced later.

The government has canceled the New Year's Eve countdown at Shatin Park in the New Territories in the wake of the disaster.

The Hong Kong Tourism Board has also called off a planned rooftop pyrotechnic display originally scheduled for Friday and Saturday.

Singers and disc jockeys attending this year's countdown to the new year at the Times Square in Causeway Bay, east of the Hong Kong Island will be appealing for donations, said Christine Yeung, spokeswoman for the event.

Meanwhile, a second Hong Kong resident was confirmed dead Thursday in Thailand's southern resort island of Phuket, Michael Wong, deputy secretary for security, told a press briefing.

The family has requested the government not to disclose any personal details of the latest victim.

Wong said that of the 1,000 Hong Kong residents who are believed to have gone missing in the affected countries, mostly Thailand, officers are following 277 cases with information provided by family members.

But for the other cases, the families are unable to provide concrete details of their whereabouts, Wong said.

The government has successfully located about 180 people since Wednesday, Wong said.

So far, about 145 officials, including police officers, medics, immigration officers and clinical psychologists, have been sent to Thailand and Sri Lanka to assist the Hong Kong people there. A command center is being set up in Phuket.

Hong Kong-based charity groups have so far raised at least HK$80 million. In addition, celebrities have urged the public to donate. Kung fu movie star Jacky Chan has pledged HK$500,000 with real estate tycoon Li Ka-shing giving HK$24 million.

The government has donated a total of HK$14 million to World Vision and Oxfam Hong Kong. It is also in talks with consulates of the countries struck by the catastrophe about financial assistance.