Hong Kong Corporates Mobilise Millions to Support Tai Po blaze Victims

HONG KONG, December 1, 2025 – As Hong Kong comes to terms with one of its deadliest residential fires in decades, the city’s corporate sector has moved quickly to support survivors and grieving families with a mix of large cash donations, emergency accommodation and logistical aid.

The blaze that swept through the Wang Fuk Court housing complex in Tai Po on November 26 has claimed well over 100 lives and displaced hundreds of residents.

In the days since, companies from Hong Kong, the Chinese mainland and further afield have pledged more than HK$600 million in relief, signalling the scale of private-sector engagement alongside the Hong Kong SAR government’s own HK$300 million relief fund.

A central pillar of the response has come from some of Hong Kong’s best-known institutions and business families.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club announced a HK$100 million aid package through its Emergency Relief Fund. The funding is being channelled into direct grants for bereaved families and seriously injured residents, as well as support for households forced out of their homes.

Major family foundations have followed suit. The Li Ka Shing Foundation created a HK$30 million emergency fund to support registered charities – particularly those operating in Tai Po – and has earmarked a further HK$50 million for longer-term recovery and community rebuilding, including support for front-line responders.

Wasion Holdings Limited (stock code: 3393.HK), leading provider of energy measurement equipment and energy-saving solutions in the PRC, announced a donation of HK$1 million to the Hong Kong Red Cross to support their “Tai Po Fire Emergency Appeal” to support the immediate and long-term needs of the affected residents. The donation will help HKRC provide a range of assistance, including on-site first aid, emergency cash relief, daily necessities, psychological support, and post-disaster recovery.

Hong Kong’s banking sector has also stepped up. HSBC and Hang Seng Bank have jointly announced HK$30 million in donations, while Bank of China (Hong Kong) has pledged HK$20 million and deployed staff at several Tai Po branches to assist residents with emergency needs.

Mainland enterprises and tech giants extend GBA solidarity

Corporates on the Chinese mainland have been quick to frame the tragedy as a shared Greater Bay Area challenge – and to respond with both capital and operational support.

According to collated data from Chinese media, at least five major carmakers – including Geely, Chery, BYD, XPeng and GAC Group – have jointly donated about HK$41 million for medical assistance, rehousing and reconstruction, with Chongqing-based EV maker Seres contributing HK$5 million on its own.

Alibaba Group and the Jack Ma Foundation together have pledged HK$50 million. Alibaba’s logistics arm, Cainiao, is coordinating shipments of food, bedding and other essentials to affected neighbourhoods.

Tencent, Xiaomi, Lenovo, ByteDance, Baidu and Pinduoduo are among a group of tech companies that have collectively donated more than HK$80 million in cash and goods.

Food-delivery platform Keeta, operated by Meituan, has donated HK$5 million and deployed free mobile charging stations, while riders have volunteered to ferry supplies into disaster-hit areas.

Ride-hailing giant Didi has announced an initial HK$10 million donation and is working with authorities on traffic management around the affected zone and on sharing verified rescue information with users.

These pledges underscore how large consumer and technology brands are increasingly expected to respond not only with cheques, but also with the infrastructure and networks they control – from logistics and data to payments.

Dedicated relief funds and transitional housing

Beyond one-off donations, several firms have created dedicated relief mechanisms that blend financial assistance with targeted services.

Crypto exchange Bitget has set up a more than HK$12 million relief fund specifically for families of Wang Fuk Court residents. Hong Kong-based property developer Hang Lung Properties has committed HK$11 million to create the Tai Po Wang Fuk Court Fire Relief Fund. Part of this is earmarked for emergency living expenses, while 20 units at its Kornhill Apartments are being offered as transitional accommodation for residents who have lost their homes.

Other brands, including consumer goods group Hengan International and insurers and asset managers with strong retail franchises in Hong Kong, have announced additional cash and in-kind support in recent days, signalling that the first wave of donations is likely to be followed by more structured programmes as needs become clearer.

Logistics, airlines and service companies provide practical back-up

While large cheques dominate the headlines, companies in logistics, aviation and retail are playing a critical role in the day-to-day operations of the relief effort.

Logistics heavyweight SF Express has turned all 146 of its outlets in Hong Kong into collection points for residents to drop off supplies such as toiletries and medical items, which the company then transports free of charge to charities and community groups serving the fire victims.

Hong Kong Airlines has promised HK$10 million in support, while also using its cargo and passenger network to move warm clothing and other necessities to distribution points and shelters, helping to bridge the gap between donors and the front line.

Retail chains and supermarket groups have mobilised bottled water, food and basic household items from nearby warehouses to emergency shelters and collection centres in Tai Po and across the New Territories.

Corporate responsibility in a time of crisis

The speed and scale of the corporate response reflect both the gravity of the Tai Po disaster and a broader shift in how businesses in Hong Kong and the mainland approach their social responsibilities.

The government’s HK$300 million special fund and the HK$10,000 emergency grant for each affected household provide a public-sector backbone for relief.

But it is the combination of that framework with substantial private-sector donations, free accommodation, and practical services – from logistics and hotel rooms to digital payment channels for small donors – that is shaping the immediate recovery effort.

According to incomplete tallies compiled by local media, donations from companies, banks, foundations and other organisations had already exceeded HK$600 million by 28 November, and the figure is expected to rise as additional pledges are confirmed.

For Hong Kong’s corporate sector, the Tai Po fire has quickly become a test of how business leaders match their ESG commitments and community-focused messaging with tangible action on the ground – not just in the first days of shock and mourning, but over the longer process of rebuilding homes, livelihoods and trust.