Hong Kong Mormons Aid Earthquake Victims in Sichuan, China

Reprinted from the Church News, Deseret Morning News (UT) 14 June 2008)

John Aki
HONG KONG
Members of the Church from Hong Kong bustle around in factory made available in mainland China for assembling 10,000 daily necessities kits to relieve suffering of earthquake victims in China.

Shortly after a call for help from Church leaders, more than 600 Hong Kong members of all ages traveled to nearby Shenzhen, China, on May 23-24 to assemble 10,000 daily necessities kits for earthquake victims in Sichuan, China.

Said one Shenzhen news reporter covering the event, "I have not seen so many Hong Kong residents come all at once to China to help."
(Photo courtesy Asia Area public affairs)

Elder Sam Chi Hong Wong, Area Seventy for Hong Kong, quoted a Chinese proverb that described the spirit of the volunteers: "We are of one heart and one mind to provide." One volunteer, as she packed an emergency kit, said that Hong Kong's Latter-day Saints are not only sending daily necessities, "We are also sending our love and thoughts."

Each kit includes crackers, powdered milk, canned meat, instant noodles, soap, tooth brush and paste, towels, raincoat, blanket and drinking water. The effort was organized by Latter-day Saint Charities under the direction of Elder Stanley Wan, an Area Seventy and Asia LDS Charities Director. Brother Bruce Lai, a Hong Kong Chinese businessman and member of the Church, made his factory in Shenzhen available for the event. China Charities Federation, a co-partner in the effort, provided distribution of the relief supplies into the difficult terrain of the earthquake zone. Observed Brother Bruce Lai, "The water can divide us, but our friendship (for China's people) will not be disconnected. Our blood is thicker than water."

A third of Brother Lai's 1,300 factory employees are from Sichuan Province. Some have left the factory to return home to help their families. Elder Wan said, "I'm truly thankful and very impressed that so many members are so enthusiastic to come all the way from Hong Kong to help. We know we are united in our spirit and efforts to provide relief to those who suffer." Members had to obtain their own visas and provide their own transportation to the border. Once over the border, buses were arranged to transport them to and from the factory. One sister reported that she took a taxi instead of the bus back to the border. After explaining to the taxi driver what she had done that day, the driver did not charge her the fare. He wanted to contribute his part to the effort, she said.

Service project key individuals are, from left, Elder Sam Chi Hong Wong, an Area Seventy; factory owner Bruce Lai; Ms. Zhao Li Zhen, vice president of the Shenzhen Red Cross; Elder Stanley Wan, Area Seventy and Asia LDS Charities Director; and Shenzhen Long Gang District Civil Administration Bureau Chief Qiu Wen Shun.

Photo courtesy Asia Area public affairs

In addition to the relief supplies, a check from LDS Charities was presented to the local government officials and the Shenzhen Red Cross. The funds come from Church member donations. Vice-President Zhao Li Zhen of the Shenzhen Red Cross promised to put the money to good use to save lives in Sichuan. Lynette Chen from Hong Kong's Victoria Branch summarized the feelings of the day when she said, "Today I witnessed the gospel in action."