The Sichuan earthquake has triggered an outpouring of generosity among the Hong Kong public, according to a recent survey.

The survey, conducted by the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment & Progress of Hong Kong (DAB), interviewed 1,458 people.

Ninety-five percent of the respondents said they have donated money. And about 92 percent said they will donate again.

DAB district councilor Starry Lee (left) speaks to the media yesterday about her visit to a Shenzhen hospital where some of the earthquake victims are receiving treatment. Edmond Tang

Some of the respondents (26.8 percent) expressed wish to adopt children orphaned in the disaster and buy food (26.2 percent) for the victims.

Meantime, the earthquake has also enhanced connection between Hongkongers and people on the mainland.

Eighty-five percent felt they have a closer bond with mainlanders after the earthquake.

Close to 70 percent were satisfied with the central government's emergency relief work.

About 75 percent said the good work of the central government has boosted their confidence in the Beijing Olympics.

At the same time, 70 percent of respondents said they are emotionally affected by the earthquake.

Ben Chan, DAB District Councilor in Tsuen Wan, said the government should set up a hotline to handle emotional problems related to the tragic disaster among members of the public.

He also called for professionals of all kinds like medical staff, engineers and social workers to help rebuild Sichuan.

In Hong Kong, donations from the SAR government and charity organizations have reached HK$2 billion as of last week.

As of Monday, the Hong Kong Red Cross and Oxfam Hong Kong have received HK$620 million and HK$43 million in donations respectively.

World Vision Hong Kong has received a total of HK$151 million as at yesterday.

The DAB has raised HK$5.4 million and has given the donations to the Central Government's Liaison Office in Hong Kong.

In the academic sector, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University presented a cheque of HK$3.2 million to the liaison office on Monday.

The university's president Poon Chung-kwong expected donations raised on campus to reach HK$3.5 million.

Staff of the university will also play a role in rebuilding Sichuan, Poon said.

For instance, the applied social science department will help train social workers on the mainland; its health experts will provide nursing help; and the university will assist in providing artificial limbs, physical therapy and occupational therapy.

Meanwhile, 96 earthquake victims who were transferred to Shenzhen last Friday are receiving good medical treatment and are in a stable condition, said Starry Lee, DAB Kowloon City District Councilor, after visiting 28 of them in the city yesterday.

The youngest victim that the district councilor visited was only six years old. The boy told her that he felt much better after a surgery.

However, a 15-year-old girl who has multiple injuries said she was still in a depressed state.

A team of three representatives from the DAB, including vice-chairmen Ann Chiang and Ip Kwok-him, will leave for Sichuan today to visit the victims.

"Our main purpose is to find out what the victims need the most, so that we can make appropriate relief arrangement," Lee said.

They will bring the victims radios and some cooling liniment, she added.

(HK Edition 05/28/2008 page1)