Charities in Hong Kong have been flooded with inquiries from residents and businesses wanting to donate money to the massive relief effort required following the quake. Tycoon Li Ka-shing's foundation has pledged US$500,000 for immediate aid work and medical supplies. Charities said the good early response from Hong Kong donors echoes the generosity shown towards victims of the Boxing Day tsunami last year. The Red Cross and Unicef have launched special appeals for the earthquake. Medecins Sans Frontieres and Oxfam are asking for donations through their normal funds. Bonnie So Yuen-han, of the Red Cross, said it was seeking $65.5 million worldwide for immediate help. The Hong Kong branch has already pledged $500,000. 'The response has already been quite positive given the timing,' Ms So said. 'People are still on leave [with today a public holiday], so we expect more pledges in the next few days.' A Hong Kong spokeswoman for Medecins Sans Frontieres, Gloria Chan Kwong-wai, said the agency had already sent supplies and three experts from Hong Kong to the disaster area. An Oxfam spokesman said: 'Oxfam is planning not just short-term relief work for this major disaster, but also more long-term rehabilitation work.' The charity's work in the region is being run by its British branch. A spokeswoman for the Li Ka Shing Foundation said it may add to its initial donation. 'We will do what we can to offer immediate relief,' the spokeswoman said. You can donate to the charities via their bank accounts: Red Cross - HSBC: 500-334149-010, Bank of China: 012-806-0-003403-3, Hang Seng: 267-175123-009, Bank of East Asia: 514-40-66899-0; Unicef - HSBC: 004-567-354014-004, Wing Lung Bank: 020-601-003-7634-8, Bank of China: 012-875-0-021868-3; Medecins Sans Frontieres - HSBC: 002-439-8224, Bank of China: 0120-566-403777-1; Oxfam - HSBC: 004-001-537000001
