Virus: HK firms donate money, medical supplies to mainland

Several Hong Kong companies have donated millions of dollars in cash and protective gears to Hubei province, the epicenter of a deadly novel coronavirus that has killed more than 300 and infected over 14,400 people.

Hong Kong-based biotechnology company GeneHarbor (Hong Kong) announced on Saturday that it would donate medical supplies to hospitals in Hubei, Zhejiang and Jiangsu province. Hubei and Zhejiang are currently the hardest hit regions in the country by the virus outbreak.

GeneHarbor said the materials it would donate include 10,000 pairs of gloves, 34,000 face masks, and thousands of disinfectants and thermometers.

In addition, the company said it would also donate 10 percent of its flagship store sales to support the development of drugs and vaccines against the new coronavirus, while calling on its customers to contribute to the fight against the disease.

Earlier entertainment group Emperor announced that it would donate a total of 10 million yuan in cash and medical protection materials to help stop the spread of the infectious disease in Hubei. The supplies will be distributed to various hospitals in nine cities and counties in Hubei that are facing a severe shortage medical equipment.

Hubei Charity Federation said the donations from Emperor would provide very effective support to the medical personnel on the frontline. It thanked the Hong Kong company for its care and support of social services in the province.

Local property giants, including Shimao Property Holdings Ltd, Henderson Land Development Co Ltd, Swire Group, and New World China Land Limited have also chipped in to efforts in combating against the virus outbreak.

On January 26, Shimao Property made a donation of HK$30 million to purchase medical equipment and supplies for Hubei frontline medical staff.

"The coronavirus outbreak has touched the hearts of billions of people in China," a spokesperson for the Shimao group said in a statement. The group will fulfill its corporate civic responsibility, and work with the Chinese people to overcome the difficulties, the statement said.

Meanwhile, New World China Land Limited has announced that it would donate 10 million yuan to the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University in Guangdong for the purchase protective gears for medical staff dispatched to support Wuhan, where the outbreak started.

On Jan 27, Swire Group donated 10 million yuan for the purchase of medical equipment and protective gears of frontline medical personnels.

Well Link lnsurance Group Holdings Ltd's Chief Executive Officer Chan Kin-por has donated HK$10 million, with half of them earmarked for Hubei province and another half for Hong Kong to fend off the virus.

Henderson Land Development Co. offered 10 million yuan to support mainland in battling the virus. It will donate more resources in accordance with the situation, the company said.