A massive earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale struck Sichuan province on Monday. Because of its magnitude and closeness to the earth's surface, the quake released so much energy that it caused enormous loss of lives and massive destruction to a number of areas.

As of yesterday afternoon, the death toll from the natural disaster exceeded 12,000, nearly 10,000 people were still buried underneath rubble and more than 20,000 were injured. Over 3.4 million buildings were damaged. Currently the disaster area is a picture of widespread sorrow and despair as millions of people mourn the loss of their loved ones with no roof over their heads or means to live by.

Hong Kong residents are just as saddened as people on the mainland.

A city-wide campaign to help victims of the earthquake is now in full swing here in Hong Kong. And the SAR government has decided to donate HK$300 million to the central government for use in relief efforts in Sichuan.

Chief Executive Donald Tsang has contacted central authorities and decided to send out a team of rescue workers to join their mainland counterparts in the worst-hit areas under the direction of the central government.

He also called on all members of the Hong Kong public to do whatever they can to help with the relief efforts.

Many organizations, charity foundations and socialites have already taken action while the entertainment sector is preparing a charity show to call for donations.

Hong Kong residents and mainlanders will always help each other when they are in need. As an old Chinese saying goes: Blood is thicker than water. Whenever a natural disaster struck the mainland, Hong Kong people would spare no effort to help.

Remember the severe floods in eastern and southern China in the 1990s, earthquakes in Yunnan province last June and the snowstorms that ravaged many regions on the mainland earlier this year? Hongkongers were there to offer their help every single time.

As a matter of fact, every time Hong Kong was in a difficult situation, the central government and mainland residents would also come to our aid just as readily and effectively.

Now it's time for us in Hong Kong to help our brothers and sisters on the mainland and to prove once again we are a family.

(HK Edition 05/14/2008 page1)