Military

DATE=12/29/04

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=DISASTER / PRIVATE AID L-ONLY

NUMBER=2-321405

BYLINE=HEDA BAYRON

DATELINE=HONG KONG

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

HEADLINE: Asian Celebrities, Companies Pledge Millions for Tsunami Victims

INTRO: Asian celebrities, businessmen and companies are showing solidarity with the victims of Sunday's catastrophic tsunamis by pledging millions of dollars in aid. VOA's Heda Bayron reports from Hong Kong that private donors - not just governments - are weighing in with big money.

TEXT: Within 24 hours of Sunday's killer earthquake-spawned tsunamis in the Indian Ocean, aid agencies started calling for donations to help victims of the calamity.

Among the first Asian celebrities to offer money was Hong Kong's richest man, Li Ka-shing. Mr. Li, a property tycoon, pledged some three million dollars - more than China's government initially pledged.

Other Hong Kong celebrities responded to the call. Popular action movie star Jackie Chan says he will be giving some 64-thousand dollars to the United Nations children's fund, UNICEF. Other Hong Kong-based actors Chow Yun-fat, Andy Lau, Stephen Chow and singer Leon Lai pledge tens of thousands of dollars each.

Companies also showed their generosity. Property developer New World Development pledged 64- thousand dollars to UNICEF.

Aldous Chiu is the investor relations manager of the company.

/// CHIU ACT ///

"We would like to take this chance to lead within the HK community to try to help these unfortunate people."

/// END ACT ///

Only a few Hong Kong people on holiday in Thailand were affected by the disaster. But Albert Chen, a spokesman for the aid group Oxfam, says Hong Kong responded swiftly to the disaster.

/// CHEN ACT ///

"It's very encouraging. They (donors) come from all walks of life. Most are just ordinary names. Some corporates are starting to have programs to raise money for the effort as well."

/// END ACT ///

The death toll in 11 Indian Ocean countries has exceeded 60-thousand and counting, with Sri Lanka and Indonesia the worst affected.

/// OPT /// The United Nations says it is staging the biggest relief effort in history. U.N. experts are warning that aid must arrive soon, or the death toll could double. /// END OPT ///

Elsewhere in the region, airlines are giving free rides to volunteer doctors and urging frequent fliers to donate air miles to aid workers. Some Singapore taxicabs have also started accepting

contributions.

In Australia, the national telecommunications company Telstra, promised to give rebates for one month for calls between Australia and affected countries. It also gave 390-thousand dollars to the relief effort. (Signed)

NEB/HK/HB/JJ