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About $33 million was raised by the Government-led fund-raising event at the Hong Kong Stadium today (January 1) for tsunami victims in South Asia.

Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa, 13 principal officials of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and more than 13,000 warm-hearted citizens participated and supported the event at the stadium.

On top of the some $30 million cheques presented during the event, $950,000 had been collected from donation boxes set up at the stadium. $1.85 million were donated by callers to the 100 donation hotlines between 3 pm and 6 pm.

The event was widely supported by various sectors of the community and donors include the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the HKSAR, the People's Liberation Army Garrison, over 60 community groups, charity groups, civil servants, political parties, mass media, as well as numerous Hong Kong people.

Members of the Hong Kong Medical Association, the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, local Indonesian groups, students of Wah Yan College and local pop singers gave singing and dancing performances to raise funds.

Funds collected will be distributed among the five co-organising orgainsations, the Red Cross, World Vision, Oxfam, United Nations Children's Fund and the Salvation Army, for emergency relief operations in the affected areas.

Ends/ Saturday, January 1, 2005

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