Major Chinese private companies have pledged tens of millions of dollars to support rescue and relief efforts after a devastating residential fire in Hong Kong killed at least 55 people and left hundreds missing, authorities said on Thursday.
Alibaba Group and its financial affiliate Ant Group together committed HK$30 million to aid firefighting and recovery work, according to company statements. Alibaba's founder Jack Ma separately pledged another US$30 million through his charitable foundation to provide emergency assistance to victims and their families.
Sportswear maker Anta, which owns brands such as Fila and Jack Wolfskin, said it would donate HK$30 million in cash and equipment. Tencent Holdings, Xiaomi Corp and ByteDance each pledged HK$10 million to support rescue operations and relief distribution.
The wave of donations came after Chinese President Xi Jinping called for "all-out efforts" to reduce casualties and urged relevant government agencies and social groups to provide "necessary support" for the city.
Additional corporate donors included BYD, Xpeng, Geely, NetEase, Trip.com, Midea Group, Du Xiaoman, Lenovo, Xtep Group, Fuguiniao Group and Be Friends Holdings, according to information provided to Reuters. Wens Foodstuff Group said it would contribute 40 million yuan, the largest single donation from a private company so far. The Red Cross Society of China pledged 2 million yuan.
Corporate giving has expanded rapidly in recent years as Beijing presses private firms and entrepreneurs to demonstrate social responsibility and align with national development goals. Tighter regulatory scrutiny across technology, property and education sectors has also encouraged business leaders to strengthen philanthropic commitments.
Xiaomi co-founder Lei Jun has donated more than 1.7 billion yuan (US$240 million) since establishing his philanthropic foundation in 2019, focusing on advanced technology development and financial support for students from low-income families.
Meituan founder Wang Xing contributed US$2.3 billion worth of shares to his personal foundation in 2021 to advance education and scientific research, while ByteDance founder Zhang Yiming has also earmarked portions of his wealth for charitable causes.
Hong Kong's Worst Fire in Decades
The blaze, which authorities described as Hong Kong's deadliest since 1948, tore through Wang Fuk Court, an eight-tower public housing complex in the northern district of Tai Po. The compound houses roughly 4,600 residents in about 2,000 apartments.
Images from the scene showed overwhelmed residents fleeing smoke-filled corridors, while others were seen crying outside the burning structures as flames engulfed multiple blocks. The fire spread rapidly across the interconnected towers, with hundreds of people initially unaccounted for.
Firefighters said the blaze, which began Wednesday morning, had been brought under control in four of the seven affected towers by early Thursday, nearly 24 hours after it erupted. Emergency crews were still battling flames in the remaining blocks and searching for survivors.
Authorities said the fire may have originated on bamboo scaffolding that wrapped the building for renovation works. The flames then spread quickly through wooden poles and synthetic mesh sheeting surrounding the complex.
Hong Kong police said a preliminary investigation found the construction company responsible for the scaffolding used "highly inflammable" foam materials, plastic and protective mesh that may not have met required safety standards.
Three men linked to the company have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter. Police described the firm's practices as "grossly negligent" and said further arrests were possible as the investigation continues.
The disaster has triggered public scrutiny of construction safety regulations and prompted calls for a review of fire-prevention standards across the city's dense public housing estates.
Local authorities are still working to account for missing residents, and community centres across Hong Kong have opened temporary shelters and counselling services for families affected by the tragedy. Hospitals reported dozens of injured residents, including some in critical condition.
Relief supplies funded by company donations — including emergency kits, food, clothing and temporary accommodation support — began arriving at district collection points on Thursday afternoon, according to local NGOs coordinating distribution.
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee said the government would "spare no effort" to support survivors and families of the deceased. "This is a moment when the entire community must stand together," he said during a visit to the fire site.
