Preston Chinese leader calls for earthquake appeal support

10:29am Thursday 15th May 2008

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A Chinese community leader is calling on local people to support the China earthquake appeal.

Raymond Chung, president of the Preston and District Chinese Community Association, has pledged to raise as much money as possible to help those affected by the disaster which is believed to have resulted in the death of nearly 15,000 people.

Mr Chung, 58, who has family in China though not in the affected area, is holding collections at Great Times, the restaurant he runs in Lancaster Road, Preston, and is urging his family and friends to send donations.

The father-of-four, who has lived in the city for more than 30 years, said: "When I heard what had happened I felt hurt and sad at the thought of so many of my people suffering.

"It is a disaster on a catastrophic scale which has killed so many of my countrymen and left millions homeless, it is very tragic."

The 7.9 magnitude earthquake, which struck to the northwest of Sichuan's provincial capital, Chengdu, on Monday, was the worst to hit China in 32 years and reduced many buildings in the area to rubble.

It is believed that almost 26,000 people remain buried in earthquake debris, with another 14,000 missing.

Among those worried about family and friends back home are the hundreds of Chinese people studying at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) in Preston.

A spokesman for the university which has strong links with country, said: "Our international student advisors are on standby to provide updates for our UK-based Chinese students who may be concerned about events at home.

"Plans are underway to enable staff and students to contribute to the relief effort by donations to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) via UCLan's International Office."

Any students who are worried about the earthquake should contact Helen Eastham on 01772 895034.

Meanwhile, the university's recruitment branch in Shanghai was cleared as a safety precaution though it was not affected by the quake.

But one of the university's 70 partners in the region, the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China in Chengdu, 92 miles from the epicentre of the quake, did suffer some building damage but there were no casualties.

Mr Chung added: "We hope the money will help to rebuild some of the communities and go towards building some of the schools which have been destroyed.

"Even a small amount will go a long way, so I would be grateful for any donations."