Major Chinese Companies Pledge Millions After Deadly Hong Kong Fire
At least 55 people died in a devastating residential fire in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district on November 26, 2025, prompting massive corporate donations following President Xi Jinping’s call for relief efforts.
Key Takeaways
- 55 fatalities confirmed in Hong Kong’s deadliest fire since 1948
- Alibaba, Tencent, Xiaomi, ByteDance among major donors
- President Xi Jinping urged all-out relief efforts
- Fire started in bamboo scaffolding at Wang Fuk Court complex
Corporate Response Gains Momentum
Leading Chinese technology and consumer companies have committed significant funds to fire relief efforts. Alibaba Group and its affiliate Ant Group jointly donated HK$30 million, while Alibaba founder Jack Ma pledged an additional $30 million through his foundation.
Other major contributors include Tencent Holdings (HK$30 million), Anta Group (HK$30 million), Xiaomi Corp (HK$10 million), and ByteDance (HK$10 million). Wens Foodstuff emerged as the largest single donor with HK$40 million.
President Xi’s Call to Action
Corporate donations accelerated after President Xi Jinping expressed condolences and called for maximum efforts to minimize casualties and losses.
Xi Jinping expressed his condolences to the victims and firefighters who died in the major fire in a residential building in Tai Po District, New Territories, Hong Kong, and extended his sympathies to the families of the victims and the affected people. He also urged all-out efforts to extinguish the fire and minimise casualties and losses, according to the Chinese State Media’s official announcement.
Complete Donor List
- Alibaba Group & Ant Group: HK$30 million
- Anta Group: HK$30 million
- Tencent Holdings: HK$30 million
- Wens Foodstuff: HK$40 million
- Mixue Bingcheng Co: HK$20 million
- China Merchants Group: HK$20 million
- Xtep Group: HK$20 million
- Xiaomi Corp: HK$10 million
- ByteDance: HK$10 million
- Shangri-La Group: HK$10 million
- PPD Holdings: HK$10 million
- Baidu: HK$10 million
- Geely: HK$10 million
- Lenovo: HK$10 million
- Du Xiaoman: HK$10 million
- Midea Group: HK$10 million
- Trip.com Group Ltd: HK$10 million
- NetEase: HK$10 million
- BYD: HK$10 million
- China Red Cross: 2 million Yuan
- Guangzhou Xiaopeng Motors (XPeng): HK$5 million
- Fuguiniao Group: HK$5 million
- Be Friends Holdings: HK$1 million
Fire Details and Historical Context
The blaze at Wang Fuk Court public housing complex represents Hong Kong’s deadliest fire incident since 1948, when a warehouse fire claimed 176 lives. The eight-tower complex housed approximately 4,600 residents across 2,000 apartments.
Investigations indicate the fire originated in bamboo scaffolding surrounding the complex, spreading rapidly through wooden poles and protective netting to adjacent buildings.
