Homes for Hope gets HK$10m boost
to help quake victims

Friday, March 20 2009

The South China Morning Post yesterday announced the launch of Homes for Hope, a charity appeal to rebuild the homes and lives of 3,000 quake victims in Sichuan.

At a ceremony last night at the Island Shangri-La hotel, the charity appeal was boosted by HK$10 million from the trust fund set up by the Hong Kong government to help reconstruction in Sichuan.

Homes for Hope aims to raise HK$18 million to help people in Qingquan village and Shengnan new village - two places devastated by the May 12 earthquake - rebuild houses and infrastructure.

Earlier this year, Homes for Hope also received HK$3 million from Operation Santa Claus, the annual charity campaign co-organised by RTHK and the Post, as one of 14 beneficiaries.

David Pang Ding-jung, chairman of SCMP Group, said the project aimed to rebuild not only homes but the lives of villagers in the hardest-hit areas.

"As a leading media organisation, we have taken the responsibility to leverage our communications platform, resources and relationships to the greatest extent possible for this worthy cause," Dr Pang said.

Attending were Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Stephen Lam Sui-lung, Secretary for Development Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, corporate donors and supporters.

Mr Lam said the government backed community involvement in Sichuan's reconstruction. "The Homes for Hope project is totally worthy of community and government's support," he told about 100 guests.

"The SCMP, as a media organisation, can reach out to many sectors in the Hong Kong community, bringing not only financing assistance but also professionalism in constructing homes and laying down infrastructure for Sichuan people."

Guests enjoyed a Sichuan opera performance of bianlian, or facechanging, by Wang Jing and a classical Chinese music recital by the Diocesan Girls' School Chinese Orchestra.

Over the year, various fund-raising events are planned to mobilise the Hong Kong community to raise funds for Sichuan quake victims.

Part of the funds raised will buy construction materials for 970 families in Qingquan village, Mianzhu city, to build earthquake-resistant houses.

The rest will help more than 500 Tibetan residents of Shengnan new village in Majia township, close to the scenic area of Jiuzhaigou, set up electricity and water supplies.