Hong Kong fire relief fund reaches HK$1.2 billion on huge outpouring from public

By noon on Sunday, four days after the fire began, the government’s support fund had grown to HK$1.2 billion (US$153 million), with HK$900 million in public donations and HK$300 million in government grants.

The total does not include donations to non-governmental organisations such as the Hong Kong Red Cross.

About HK$1 billion was raised in Hong Kong in the first week following the earthquake in mainland China’s Sichuan province in May 2008, both in public donations and government funds.

The magnitude-8 earthquake was one of the worst in China’s history, leaving 87,000 people dead, more than 370,000 injured and 5 million homeless.

It was a catalyst for the charitable sector on the mainland and a high point in Hong Kong’s philanthropic support for disaster relief there.