Eric Hotung sends aid to Sri Lanka

Eric Hotung has sent food and medical supplies worth $2 million to Sri Lanka to help victims of the tsunami.

The Hong Kong businessman and philanthropist organised the shipment with the help of a friend, British adventurer Colonel John Blashford-Snell.

A chartered plane carrying 40 tonnes of aid - including tarpaulins, medical supplies and water purification equipment - left the UK for Sri Lanka on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, a government spokesman said the Hong Kong Police were continuing with efforts to contact the relatives of 34 Hong Kong residents missing following the tsunami disaster in order to take DNA samples to help with identification.

Of the 34 missing, 31 were last seen in Thailand and three in Indonesia.

So far, police have taken samples from 27 family members of those missing.