Students and teachers of Lai Chack Middle School organize a charity sales on campus during lunch time yesterday for Sichuan earthquake victims. Edmond Tang

Many local organizations have donated huge amounts of cash and materials to support the rescue efforts in Sichuan province ravaged by an earthquake on Monday.

Until 4pm yesterday, the Central Government's Liaison Office in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region had received HK$255 million and 30.5 million yuan in donation from various organizations and individuals.

Donors include the Li Ka Shing Foundation, former National People's Congress Standing Committee member Tsang Hin-chi and the MTR Corporation.

Staff of the liaison office, including those who have retired and those who have gone on business trips, have so far donated HK$824,000.

Tung Chee-hwa, Vice Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, donated HK$5 million through the liaison office yesterday. His brother Tung Chee-chen, chairman of Orient Overseas (International) Limited, also gave HK$1 million.

The ex-chief executive felt deeply sorrowful about the disaster, but was touched by the country's enthusiasm in its rescue efforts.

The liaison office sent a letter yesterday to the Sichuan provincial government to express its condolence over the enormous loss of lives caused by the severe earthquake and best wishes for the victims and all those racing against time to save lives and help with disaster relief there.

The letter also emphasizes that Hong Kong residents have been doing their best to help the victims by donating money and materials since the tragic disaster took place.

The SAR government yesterday gave its green light to allocate a total of HK$11 million from the Disaster Relief Fund to two relief agencies to undertake relief projects for the victims.

The two grants, HK$7.5 million and HK$3.5 million, are disbursed to Hong Kong Red Cross and The Amity Foundation respectively.

Together with the earlier approved HK$300 million for the relief headquarters of the Central Government and HK$50 million to major relief organizations, the government has donated a total of HK$361 million so far.

A government spokesperson said a fast-track mechanism has been set up to process grant applications from relief organizations that intend to help the earthquake victims.

Dragonair yesterday announced to match donations by its staff to support the relief operations.

It has as well donated HK$2 million to Hong Kong Red Cross in conjunction with its sister airline Cathay Pacific.

Hong Kong media mogul Run Run Shaw donated HK$100 million to the Ministry of Education, hoping to help rebuild schools for teachers and students affected by the earthquake.

The Ministry of Education thanked Shaw for the donation, and ordered responsible departments to carry out the rebuilding work as soon as possible.

(HK Edition 05/16/2008 page1)