Central government and Guangdong coordinate support for Hong Kong fire relief

The Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee has coordinated with Guangdong province to provide assistance and support for relief efforts following the Tai Po fire in Hong Kong, which has already killed dozens of residents and injured many others.

In response to the needs outlined by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government, Guangdong dispatched rescue gear and medical materials, which were handed over to Hong Kong authorities on Thursday and Friday, respectively, according to a statement released by the office on its official website on Friday.

Xu Qifang, the executive deputy director of the office, visited Hong Kong on Thursday to coordinate and support disaster relief operations.

Meanwhile, faculty and students of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) have so far donated one million yuan ($141,844) to aid and support the relief efforts. Lionel M. Ni, president of HKUST (GZ), contributed 100,000 yuan.

"During this difficult time, the entire faculty and student body of HKUST (GZ) wish to express our deepest condolences to the victims, and extend our sincere sympathies to the injured, the families of the deceased, and all affected residents of Hong Kong," said the university in a statement.

HKUST (GZ) would continue to monitor the progress of the relief efforts and is committed to providing all possible support to the Tai Po fire rescue operations, according to the statement.

The university's fundraising initiative remains ongoing, it added.