Hong Kong – In a joint effort to provide immediate aid to Sichuan’s earthquake survivors, STAR and FedEx Express airlifted 31 tonnes of necessities to Sichuan Province, China, on June 1 2008 . Sourced by STAR’s Greater China offices in Hong Kong, Taipei and Guangzhou, the relief supplies included tents, sleeping bags, mats, blankets, surgical masks, cup noodles and health drinks. FedEx Express provided full cargo transport and logistical support, congregating the supplies in Hong Kong and dispatching them to Chengdu, where they were received by the Sichuan Provincial Civil Affairs Department. May 19-21 saw entertainment venues in China closed for three days of mourning for those killed in the Sichuan earthquake. All media were toned down as a mark of respect, with many newspapers using black ink instead of their usual bright colors. “Public recreational activities will be stopped during the period,” ran a statement from China’s ruling State Council. Regular programming on TV, including cable, made way for 24-hour news coverage of the disaster from CCTV. Over in Hong Kong, Asian entertainment and media industries rallied to raise money for victims of the Sichuan earthquake. A 7½-hour Live Aid-style concert was held in Hong Kong West Kowloon’s outdoor PopTV Arena on June 1. More than 20 entertainment industry guilds and major TV stations in Hong Kong teamed up to organize the event, which saw 200-plus stars from Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the Chinese mainland performing. The concert kicked off at 2:28 p.m. – the moment the quake struck May 12, killing 69,000 people. Reports said 20,000 people paid a minimum donation of HK$20 (US$ 2.50) to see the concert. Donations also poured in from TV viewers through dedicated hotlines. Backed by 20 film and TV guilds, the live TV event was carried from 7pm, uninterrupted by commercials, on all major free-to-air channels.