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Flags stand at half-mast in Hong Kong

By Phoebe Cheng (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-04-22 08:02

HONG KONG -- People in the southern economic hub of Hong Kong on Wednesday shared the nation's sorrow, mourning for victims of the 7.1 magnitude earthquake that hit Qinghai province one week ago.

Flags in Hong Kong's Golden Bauhinia Square and at all government buildings flew at half-mast. Chief Executive Donald Tsang, with about 100 staff members of various government offices, had a minute's silence at 9:30 am at government headquarters in Central.

Legislators also observed one minute of silence before their 11 am meeting.

The Tourism Commission suspended "A Symphony of Lights", held at night at the Tsim Sha Tsui seaside.

Staff at the Correctional Services Department also observed a minute's silence. At Stanley Prison, more than 100 correctional officers, doctors and new recruits from the Staff Training Institute gathered to mourn. Activities and prison labor were suspended for the brief observance. Inmates participated on a voluntary basis.

Times Square in Causeway Bay held an event from 10 am to 7 pm. Jointly organized with the Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF, Time Square also held a fundraising event at the plaza. In addition, the Hong Kong Jockey Club asked spectators to join in a minute's silence before the first race on Wednesday night.

Some people also paid special respects to Wong Fuk-wing, the Hong Kong truck driver who died during an aftershock as he tried to save children at a orphanage where he was a volunteer.

"He is a role-model for Hong Kong people," said Raymond Ip, one of those who mourned in Tsim Sha Tsui. "His self-sacrifice is something we have to learn."

Hong Kong artists are holding a fundraising program to aid victims, with a performance planned for the Hong Kong Coliseum on April 26. Members of the public will be admitted for a donation of over HK$100 ($13).

The government will seek approval of the Legislative Council Finance Committee on Friday for a supplementary provision of HK$130 million for the Disaster Relief Fund.

Of that amount, HK$100 million will be forwarded to the provincial government of Qinghai. The rest is to provide a buffer in the Fund to accommodate applications from non-governmental organizations.

With the advice of the Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee, the Hong Kong government has already approved a grant of HK$4.5 million from the Fund for an non-governmental organization to provide emergency relief to the victims.