Bangkok: Mainland China has been mobilizing relief efforts in Hong Kong following a massive fire at a residential building on Wednesday, with the central bank speeding up cross-border yuan donations and the Red Cross raising about 16 million yuan (US$2.1 million) in emergency funds to help victims.
According to Thai News Agency, CCTV reported that the Financial Institutions Stability Regulatory Policy Office of the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) has advised commercial banks to open a special channel for cross-border yuan donations to support search and rescue, medical treatment, and relief work related to the fire in Hong Kong’s Tai Po District.
This special channel allows donations to be transferred directly to Tai Po’s designated fund accounts as per payment instructions, without the need for verification by mainland institutions or individuals, as long as donors have provided all the required information.
On Friday, the Chinese Red Cross Society handed over 15.53 million yuan (about US$2.1 million) in emergency funds, mostly raised by companies and individual donors, to the Hong Kong Red Cross Society.
The Chinese Red Cross Society headquarters will continue to collect and forward donations, and will maintain close coordination with the Hong Kong Red Cross Society to coordinate relief operations.