DPA
Hong Kong, May 14 (DPA) Hong Kong legislators Wednesday voted to send nearly $45 million to help the victims of the earthquake in China’s Sichuan province. At a meeting of the finance committee Wednesday morning, members approved a proposal by Chief Executive Donald Tsang to give 300 million Hong Kong dollars ($38.4 million) to the government’s central relief effort.

They also voted unanimously to give another 50 million Hong Kong dollars ($6.4 million) to help aid agencies with their relief work.

Beijing-appointed Tsang announced at a press conference Tuesday that teams comprising emergency workers and volunteer doctors and nurses were on standby to fly the 1,300 km to Sichuan from Hong Kong.

Flights between Hong Kong and Chengdu have been disrupted by the earthquake and the former British colony’s government has had dozens of requests for help from Hong Kong people seeking information about relatives in Sichuan.

The magnitude-7.8 quake hit Monday, killing more than 15,000 people and left tens of thousands missing in toppled buildings.
DPA