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BEIJING, Jan. 2 (Xinhuanet) -- As the Chinese government
promised more aid to the victims of the southeast Asian tsunamis, more
and more people across China visit donation stations to make their own
contribution.
The Red Cross Society of China and its branches throughout the country have published their donation
bank account, ways to contact the donation stations and extended their service
hours.
The Red Cross Society of Liaoning Province in
northeast China has received more than 100 phone calls asking for donation
information and many citizens visited the local stations since thetsunami said
Yang Xiao, the society's secretary-general.
The staff and coordinators at local stations have
been working overtime and all the money collected will be sent to tsunamis-hit
nations via the Red Cross of China, Yang said.
In Shenyang, capital city of Liaoning, many people
chose to throw their extra cash into the donation boxes instead of shoppingor
going to theater.
Mo Yizhen, 6, gave a pile of coins worth 177.71 yuan
that he saved for three years on Sunday morning.
"The schools were washed out there and I hope the
money could help the children there go back to school again," said the
primaryschool pupil.
The Red Cross Society of Shenyang planned to mobilize
its 1.26 million members to raise more donations after the New Year holidays,
said Liu Xicheng, the society's deputy president.
In Beijing, the Red Cross Society's donation bank
account received about 80,000 yuan (9,600 US dollars) Sunday. Government sources
said that by Sunday afternoon the city's civil affairs department had obtained
more than 400,000 yuan (48,000 US. dollars)in donations.
In Shijiazhuang, capital of north China's Hebei
Province, a donation station was set up in the square outside the railway
station and received hundreds of residents and travelers.
In southwest Sichuan Province, the provincial Red
Cross Societyreceived 20,000 yuan (2,400 US. dollars) of donations.
In Hefei, capital city of east China's Anhui
Province, a business woman, Zhang Yan, offered 2,000 yuan (240 US. dollars)
onSaturday and became the first donator in the city.
"So many people are hungry there and I just want to
do what I can," she said.
On Friday, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao announced that
China willprovide an additional 500 million yuan in humanitarian aid to the
tsunami victims as he met with diplomatic envoys from the affectedcountries and
representatives of some international organizations in Beijing. Enditem
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