Hong Kong Disaster Relief Fund donates HK$65 million to help flood victims in Beijing and surrounding areas
- Recent flooding in northern China claimed at least 62 lives, with roughly half of death toll reported in Beijing
- In Beijing at least 59,000 homes reportedly collapsed, and more than 15,000 hectares of cropland were flooded
A Hong Kong government fund has donated HK$65 million (US$ 8.3 million) to help victims of deadly flooding triggered by record-breaking rain in Beijing and surrounding provinces.
Donations were approved on Monday for nine agencies and charities that applied to the government’s Disaster Relief Fund after leading political parties and some tycoons poured money into mainland China to help the victims.
“This demonstrates the close relationship between Hongkongers and mainland compatriots and the spirit of mutual care,” Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu wrote on his Facebook page, appealing to residents to continue to support the relief efforts and aid workers.
A government spokesman said authorities, together with the Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee, would continue to closely monitor the situation and related rescue work.
He also pledged that the government would offer more grants to help victims in a timely manner when needed.
The recent flooding in northern China claimed at least 62 lives, with roughly half of the death toll reported in Beijing. But a full count of the fatalities and the economic cost of the natural disaster remain unclear.
In Beijing alone, at least 59,000 homes reportedly collapsed, and more than 15,000 hectares (37,065 acres) of cropland were flooded. Scores of roads and more than 100 bridges were damaged.
The nine organisations include the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions Disasters Relief Charity Fund, Federation of Hong Kong Beijing Organisations, World Vision Hong Kong, Hong Kong United Youth Exchange Foundation and the Hong Kong Island Social Services Charitable Foundation.
The others are the Hua Jing Youth Foundation, Hong Kong CPPCC (Provisional) Members Association Foundation, All-China Women’s Federation Hong Kong Delegates Association Foundation, and Amity Foundation.
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Several local pro-Beijing parties have also donated money, including the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) which donated HK$1 million. The Liberal Party and New People’s Party each gave HK$500,000.
Henry Cheng Kar-shun of New World Development reportedly donated 20 million yuan (US$2.7 million).
The government established the Disaster Relief Fund in 1993 to provide a ready mechanism for Hong Kong to respond to international appeals for humanitarian aid outside the city.
The Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee is chaired by the chief secretary and has eight members, including three lawmakers.
In the 2022-23 financial year, grants of about HK$56 million were approved in total, including HK$7 million to three groups for relief programmes for mainland flood victims.
In 2021-22, Hong Kong approved HK$8.5 million in grants for two agencies to help the Henan government with disaster relief after the province was hit by deadly floods.
