Hong Kong business people have donated over HK$1.11 billion as well as medical supplies to mainland China to help fight the spread of the new coronavirus, according to Beijing’s liaison office.
The novel virus was first detected in Wuhan, China, and has since spread to more than a dozen countries. There have been more than 42,000 cases and over 1,000 deaths globally, according to official figures.
China’s liaison office in Hong Kong – the central government’s top representative in the city – said that many business people have made donations to the mainland through the office.
“This is a key moment in combatting the pandemic. The Liaison Office will continue to relay the support of all of Hong Kong’s sectors to the mainland, as it works to control the outbreak. The office fully supports the Hong Kong government and all of the city’s sectors in carrying out effective measures to strengthen the prevention of a pandemic and treating patients,” the Liaison Office said.
Donations reportedly included HK$100 million from the Li Ka Shing Foundation to go towards combatting the virus in Wuhan. Shimao Properties also donated HK$30 million, among other contributions. The funds will be transferred to the Red Cross Society of China for distribution and monitoring, the office said.
The Liaison Office said members of the National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference also made monetary donations. Chair of Evergrande Group Xu Jiayin donated 300 million Chinese yuan (HK$334 million) and Executive Director Francis Lui donated HK$20 million, among contributions, on behalf of K. Wah Group.
Lam Lung-on, chair of Yuzhou Properties, set up a 15 million Chinese yuan (HK$16 million) fund and donated 2,240 N95 face masks and 1,000 sets of medical protective clothing.
Clifford Pang and Wendy Man of the Clifford Group also provided 280 rooms at a hotel for the Foshan Nanhai government to use to combat the spread of the virus.
