BEIJING – Air China has removed 24 airplanes from commercial service and dedicated them to providing 24-hour disaster relief for victims of the earthquake in Sichuan.
Air China is carrying tents, clothes, sheets, fast food and medical equipment, provided by the Red Cross Society of China, China Charity Federation and other charitable organisations.
So far, Air China has carried more than 2000 soldiers and medics and more than 1000 tonnes of material to the disaster areas.
Air China and the Air China Group have donated 11 million yuan (US$1.5m) to the disaster relief effort in Sichuan.
Separately, 4 million yuan (US$57,000) was provided by Air China staff.
In Hong Kong, a philanthropist has pledged to donate up to HK$100 million of the estimated HK$1.3 billion he expects to raise from the sale of five sites in Kowloon Tong to rebuild schools for Sichuan earthquake victims.
The properties, tenders for which open today, include the former home of the late kung fu star, Bruce Lee.
Yu Pang-lin, 87, pledged to donate HK$28.8 million (US$3.6m) to building schools in Sichuan provided at least one site is sold. The rest of the proceeds will go to a charitable foundation under his name.
Previously, Cheung Kong Holdings chairman Li Ka-shing donated HK$30 million to the earthquake relief fund.
The death toll from the devastating earthquake in southwest China’s Sichuan Province rose to 40,075 nationwide on Tuesday, according to the Information Office of the State Council.
Another 247,645 people were injured in the 8.0-magnitude quake.
The information office also said that 32,361 people were missing as of Tuesday noon.
