Activists said yesterday they would launch another expedition to the Diaoyu Islands next month even though they were short of funds. But the organisers of the expedition, which would mark the tenth anniversary of the first expedition to the islands by Hong Kong people, look as though they will have no problem in securing funding of around HK$1.8 million, as they are turning to pop singers to help. The Hong Kong-based Action Committee for Defending the Diaoyu Islands said it would co-organise a pop concert at the Hong Kong Coliseum in conjunction with the Emperor Entertainment Group (EEG) to raise funds. The concert, which will be held either on October 31 or November 1, would be the first of seven being held by EEG, with its top-listed singers performing. Around 500 tickets will be sold as VIP tickets. Government Central Policy Unit consultant Lew Mon-hung, who has joined the committee as chief consultant, said he asked for the co-operation with EEG because the group's chairman, Albert Yeung Sau-sing, had donated money for the committee's last expedition. 'Diaoyu activities should go with the times,' he said. 'It should never be only the expedition and nothing else.' The committee also launched a fund-raising campaign yesterday to encourage Chinese around the world to each donate HK$20 to the expedition. Mr Lew is also negotiating with the MTR Corporation to hold an exhibition at stations to show maps dating as far back as 1752 indicating the islands are part of China. Committee chairman Or Wah said they had not arranged the expedition date yet but would go ahead whether they had the money or not. He said the expedition was to mark the 10th anniversary of the death of David Chan Yuk-cheung, who drowned while trying to land on the islands in 1996. A candle-light vigil will be held in Chater Garden next Monday in his memory.