Hong Kong: Hong Kong said today it will donate USD 38 million to Beijing to help with rescue efforts after an earthquake hit China's southwest, killing more than 12,000 people.

Hong Kong s chief executive Donald Tsang told a press briefing the money would go to Beijing s coordinating centre responsible for the rescue work.

A team of health and fire services experts from Hong Kong will also be sent to the disaster zone in Sichuan province, which was struck by a 7.9-magnitude quake yesterday, he said.

Tsang dismissed concerns that the catastrophe would affect the Beijing Olympics, noting the quake epicentre was far from the host city.

"Also, the Olympics have been under preparation for many years and have the full support of the Olympic community as well as the whole nation. I do not think the arrangement will be affected by the disaster," he said.

A Hong Kong government spokesman said a Hong Kong woman who suffered a serious head injury following the quake was in stable condition after undergoing an operation in Sichuan today.

The spokesman also noted that they had received 63 requests for assistance and 258 enquiries following the quake, with most cases concerning Hong Kong people who could not reach relatives in Sichuan.

Meanwhile, Macau s Chief Executive Edmund Ho said his government would donate USD 13 million to Beijing's rescue efforts.

Source : PTI