Hong Kong’s Nepalese community and local organisations have intensified fundraising efforts to support relief operations following a devastating flash flood along the Himalayan border between Nepal and Tibet. The city government has also committed HK$50 million from its Disaster Relief Fund to aid in the response.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced the allocation in a social media post, expressing condolences to those affected by the disaster and pledging expedited processing of funding applications through the relief fund’s advisory committee.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club pledged an additional HK$20 million to the relief efforts, while the Macau government committed 30 million yuan (approximately HK$35 million) to support recovery operations. The Jockey Club also highlighted involvement of the Institute for Disaster Management and Reconstruction, a joint initiative between Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Sichuan University formed after the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, assisting in rescue activities.
The disaster occurred on Wednesday when a large wall of mud and rock collapsed into a river at the border region, causing catastrophic flooding. Official reports confirm seven fatalities on the Chinese side, with 544 individuals still reported missing.
The Hong Kong Red Cross launched an emergency appeal yesterday to address urgent humanitarian needs and allocated HK$200,000 toward ongoing relief support. Meanwhile, World Vision Hong Kong called for public donations through social media channels. Isaac Anup Rana, the organisation’s field operations director in Nepal, described the conditions at the disaster site as extremely challenging due to disrupted communications and destruction of infrastructure including roads and bridges. He noted that aid workers struggled to access affected communities.
Rana indicated that World Vision had allocated US$100,000 for initial assistance with plans to reach roughly 1,000 households in the first phase of relief. He also acknowledged the generosity of Hong Kong donors over time.
The city’s Nepalese community, numbering around 30,000, has mobilised fundraising activities locally. Soyena Dhakal, president of the Hong Kong chapter of the Federation of International Nepali Youth Entrepreneurs, said the group is urging members to contribute to Nepal’s official government relief fund. Dhakal emphasised the importance of raising awareness about supporting the victims through various channels and exploring additional avenues for aid.
In Central district, the Nepalese-affiliated Orchard bar plans to host a fundraising event with all proceeds donated to Nepal’s government relief fund. Founder Alex Pun, a Hong Kong resident since 2003, said the response from the broader Hong Kong community following the disaster had inspired him to organise the event. Pun described the aftermath as an emotionally difficult time for Nepalese both at home and abroad and stressed the importance of solidarity.
“Even after living away for nearly 20 years, the connection with home remains strong,” Pun said. “We Nepalese understand this is a moment to demonstrate unity and compassion.”