Prominent Hong Kong business figures and their affiliated foundations have jointly pledged substantial financial support to aid victims of the recent catastrophic flash floods along the Nepal-Tibet border. Li Ka-shing and his associated enterprises, including CK Asset Holdings, CK Hutchison Holdings, and the Li Ka Shing Foundation, have each committed 15 million yuan (approximately HK$17.5 million) to relief efforts. Henderson Land Development and the Lee Shau Kee Foundation matched this contribution, while Nina Wang Charitable Management pledged an additional HK$10 million.
These donations were funneled through the central government’s liaison office disaster relief account to facilitate efficient disbursement in the affected regions. The collective response comes after a massive landslide last Wednesday sent a wall of mud and rock crashing into a river along the Himalayan border, causing severe flooding and widespread devastation.
According to Nepalese police reports, as of 2 p.m. local time yesterday, the death toll reached 1,058 with 4,606 individuals still unaccounted for. Chinese authorities confirmed 16 fatalities and 546 missing persons within their jurisdiction, bringing the combined death toll on both sides of the border to 1,074.
In addition to private donations, several public and community organizations have mobilized resources to support relief efforts. The Hong Kong government allocated HK$50 million from its Disaster Relief Fund, the Jockey Club contributed HK$20 million, and the Macau government provided 30 million yuan in assistance.
Experts from a joint disaster management institute, established by the Polytechnic University and Sichuan University with funding from the Jockey Club following the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, dispatched a technical team to Tibet to aid recovery operations. Led by associate research fellow Li Yao, the university-based team was the first of its kind to enter the core disaster zone. Since last Friday, the group has utilized drone technology to map the avalanche's origin and terrain features. Their work included examining mud deposits, air-blast traces, and slope conditions along the flow path.
The team conducted a preliminary assessment of the risk posed by a landslide-dammed lake in the upper Donglin Zangbo river area, identifying potential breaching hazards. Their findings are informing the safe deployment of rescue teams and guiding monitoring and early-warning efforts aimed at preventing secondary disasters. This scientific data provides a critical foundation for ongoing rescue and recovery activities in the region.