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On behalf of the Government, the Commissioner for Transport, Mr Robert Footman, received today (January 7) a donation of about $5 million for the South Asia tsunami relief effort from more than 30 transport companies and trade associations.

"I would like to express my greatest appreciation to your company/association for your kindness and your donation to help the tsunami victims in South Asia. Your generosity and efforts have demonstrated a strong sense of solidarity within the transport trade and the entire community to lend a helping hand to the tsunami victims and their families," Mr Footman said.

"Every dollar you donate will surely be put to good use to help the victims to recover from the disaster," he said.

Mr Footman said that today was also a big reunion day for the transport trade in Hong Kong following the 30th anniversary of the Transport Department in 1998. He said that the transport trade had made significant contributions to keep Hong Kong moving towards a world city with the world's best transport system which was safe, reliable, efficient and environmentally friendly.

He added that the Transport Department was deeply grateful for the cooperation and assistance from the trade to make Hong Kong a better place to invest, to work and to live. The department would continue to work closely with the sector to make greater achievements in the years ahead.

Names of organisations and donation amounts are as follows:

      Organisation                    Donation Amount (HK$)
 ---------------------               ---------------------
 (in random order)
 
 Dah Chong Hong (Motor                           50,000
 Service Centre) Ltd
 
 Taxi Dealers & Owners Association,        1,000,000
 The Hong Kong Taxi and Public Light
 Bus Association
 
 Tai Wo Motors Ltd                                20,000
 
 The Kowloon Taxi Owners Association          20,000
 
 United Friendship Taxi Owners &               52,500
 Drivers Association
 
 Hong Kong Kowloon Taxi & Lorry                 20,000
 Owners Association
 
 The Taxi Operators Association                 10,000
 
 Mr Ma Ah Muk                                      100,000
 
 AMS Public Transport Holdings Ltd             100,000
 
 G.M.B. Maxicab Operators General               100,000
 Association Ltd
 
 Choi Lung Maxicab PLB Ltd                         50,000
 
 Chit Fai Motors Co., Ltd.                         10,000
 
 Public Light Bus General Association            71,000
 
 Hong Kong Kowloon & New Territories             20,000
 Public & Maxicab Light Bus Merchants'
 United Association
 
 Hon Wah Public Light Bus Association             15,000
 
 Kowloon Public Light Bus Chiu Chow               15,000
 Traders & Workers Friendly Association
 
 Hong Kong Public Light Bus Owner &              10,000
 Driver Association
 
 Alliance for Rights of Taxi and                  120,000
 Public Light Bus Trades
 
 Public Omnibus Operators Association            100,000
 
 Hongkong Guangdong Boundary Crossing            100,000
 Bus Association                      (another $0.5 million
                                     donated to the Red Cross)
 
 School Buses Operators Association Ltd.           5,000
 
 Kwoon Chung Bus Holdings Ltd.                     200,000
 
 All China Express (Wan Chai) Ltd.                200,000
 
 All China Express (Mong Kok) Ltd.                200,000
 
 China-Hong Kong Express Ltd.                      200,000
 
 Kowloon Motor Bus Holdings Ltd.                 1,000,000
 
 Citybus Ltd. and New World First Bus             500,000
 Services Ltd.
 
 New Lantao Bus Co., (1973) Ltd.                   200,000
 
 Staff of Transport Department                       58,203

Ends/Friday, January 7, 2005

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