After the devastating earthquake hit Wenchuan on May 12, 2008, over 600 Bank of China overseas branches have become the windows for collecting donations from all walks of life abroad, including overseas Chinese, foreign friends and overseas employees of Chinese-funded institutions. The money raised in USD, GBP, EUR, JPY, AUD, MYR, HKD, MOP and so on are continuously transferred to the earthquake-stricken areas via these overseas branches.
In Paris, Bank of China Paris Branch opened two special counters there and in the Agence Italie respectively for disaster relief donation on the morning of May 13, giving priority to donation remittance, and no fee was charged for donations to charities like the Red Cross Society of China (RCSC). Nouvelles D'Europe, a Chinese language newspaper with the largest circulation in Europe, gave a report on such services as well as the branch's address and hotline. On the same day, many people called the hotline for inquiry and donation, including local overseas Chinese, foreign friends and the branch's customers like Africa-based Chinese-funded enterprises. From May 13 to 15, the branch handled 80 donation transactions totaling EUR 21,203, most of which were from individuals, with the single donation up to EUR 1,000. In addition, the branch also conducted donation remittance of USD 45,370 for the staff of China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation Nigeria Ltd., and USD 80,175 for the Economic & Commercial Counselor's Office of Chinese Embassy in the Republic of Mali.
In Tokyo, Bank of China Tokyo Branch opened special accounts for donations from Chinese Embassy in Japan and the Consulate-General in Osaka on the morning of May 13, and no remittance fee was charged. The branch also provided a remittance map on the official website of the Embassy on the same day. Upon reading such information, many overseas Chinese called the business department of the branch for details at noon. As of May 15, Tokyo Branch has carried out 377 transactions of remittance and transfer for disaster relief, totaling JPY 21,751,600. In addition, Yokohama Branch, located in the busy Chinatown, set up donation boxes at the counters to collect donations.
Overseas Chinese donate for the earthquake-stricken areas
In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in response to Bank of China (Malaysia) Berhad's proposal of donating for the earthquake-stricken areas, local overseas Chinese and foreign friends made contributions for the disaster relief funds, among whom some came to the branch from other provinces far away, while others delivered cheques to the branch by courier. On the first day of donation, many people rushed to the queue-free counter in the business hall for donations, while some people directly put money in the donation box. As of May 16, the branch had collected donations of MYR 1,784,000, and the special donation account opened by Chinese Embassy in Malaysia witnessed 249 transactions. On May 16 alone, the branch conducted 11 donation transactions to the RCSC, totaling MYR 32,000. China Press, a local Chinese language newspaper, spared no words in reporting the donation activity at the branch on May 16.
Bank of China overseas branches themselves have become the main forces of donations for the earthquake-stricken area. Besides HKD 11 million made by Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited and its subsidiaries of Nanyang Commercial Bank and Chiyu Banking Corporation Ltd. As of May 19, BOC International Holding Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bank of China, and BOCI Securities Limited have made donations of HKD 8,802,200. Bank of China Group Investment Limited and Bank of China Group Insurance have made a donation of HKD 560,500 and HKD 150,000 respectively. Bank of China Paris Branch raised EUR 10,000 to the RCSC with additional EUR 5,500 from its staff and a consolation letter to Sichuan Branch. Tokyo Branch's donation reached JPY 2 million and its staff's donation hit JPY 293,000. Staff of Ho Chi Minh City Branch donated USD 3,421, with Vietnamese employees' contribution of USD 421. As of May 19, donations from Bank of China overseas branches has exceeded RMB 21 million.
One of Bank of China's overseas employees wrote to the head office: Though we are far away from the homeland and cannot encourage our colleagues and the people in Sichuan in person, we pay close attention to the situation of the disaster by media every day. All our overseas staff and all overseas Chinese sincerely hope the donation could help the people in the earthquake-stricken areas. Let's pray for the people in the earthquake stricken area.
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