Hong Kong inaugurates photo exhibition on Sichuan earthquake anniversary

Source: Xinhua | 05-13-2009 09:07

HONG KONG, May 12 (Xinhua) -- A local newspaper in Hong Kong inaugurated a photo exhibition on Tuesday, the one-year anniversary of the magnitude 8.0 earthquake that killed over 67,000 in the Chinese mainland province of Sichuan and elsewhere.

A minute of silence was observed at 2:28 p.m., the precise moment when the disaster struck a year ago, by Donald Tsang, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), and senior officials of the HKSAR government.

Gao Siren, director of the Liaison Office of the Central Government, and members from various sectors also joined them commemorate the earthquake victims.

Hong Kong has been a keen participant in the post-quake rescue and reconstruction work, contributing billions of dollars and expert services since shortly after the quake.

Five people who lost their arms or legs in the earthquake but were able to stand up again on prostheses thanks to help from volunteer organizations of Hong Kong doctors, were invited to the ceremony to inaugurate the photo exhibition.