Hong Kong Stars Take Action for Quake Relief

Andy Lau attends a star-studded fund-raiser held by Hong Kong TVB station for Sichuan earthquake victims on Saturday, May 17, 2008. [Photo: Tungstar/ent.sina.com.cn]

Jacky Cheung attends a star-studded fund-raiser held by Hong Kong TVB station for Sichuan earthquake victims on Saturday, May 17, 2008. [Photo: Tungstar/ent.sina.com.cn]

Joey Yung attends a star-studded fund-raiser held by Hong Kong TVB station for Sichuan earthquake victims on Saturday, May 17, 2008. [Photo: Tungstar/ent.sina.com.cn]

Gigi Leung attends a star-studded fund-raiser held by Hong Kong TVB station for Sichuan earthquake victims on Saturday, May 17, 2008. [Photo: Tungstar/ent.sina.com.cn]

A joint effort by a galaxy of Hong Kong entertainers has raised 220 million Hong Kong dollars (US$28.2 million) for the victims of the Sichuan earthquake.

The local TVB station brought together Andy Lau, Gigi Leung, Jacky Cheung, and Joey Yung as well as 60 other stars for a mass fund-raising event on Saturday, just five days after the devastating earthquake jolted Sichuan Province, killing at least 28,881 people.

Donation calls poured in as stars performed heart-warming songs and expressed confidence that the ongoing battle against the disaster would ultimately be successful.

The show was planned to run for three hours, but was extended an extra hour until midnight because of the flood of donations coming through the hotline.

"We want to tell our brothers and sisters in Sichuan that you are never alone," Eric Tsang, actor and honorary president of the Hong Kong Performing Artistes Guild, was quoted by Xinhua news agency. "Hong Kong people are always ready to help," he added.

TVB's centenarian executive chairman Sir Run Run Shaw, who had recently been discharged from hospital, arrived on the scene to encourage donations. Earlier reports say Sir Run Run Shaw personally donated 100 million Hong Kong dollars to the earthquake relief efforts.（CRIENGLISH.com）