A deadly fire erupted on November 26 at the Wang Fuk Yuen housing estate in Taipo, Hong Kong, and has so far claimed the lives of at least 159 people. Hong Kong artist Sammi Cheng expressed her sorrow and grief on social media, but faced backlash and accusations from netizens questioning whether she had donated money in addition to offering prayers for the victims. In response to this criticism, she issued a lengthy statement on December 4.
On December 2, Sammi Cheng posted on social media that while Hong Kong was in the midst of a crisis, she was obligated to continue with her filming work from morning till night. Seeing many kind-hearted citizens providing help at the scene while she felt helpless on the filming set left her deeply saddened and ashamed. She left work half an hour early that day, rushed to a church, and prayed in tears, but was subsequently called out for not making a donation.
In her detailed explanation on December 4, she revealed that she was extremely anxious and heartbroken following the disaster. Just like everyone else, her initial instinct was to search for reputable organizations to make a contribution, hoping to assist in some way with monetary help. After sharing a photo of her praying for the victims, she received a barrage of criticism and accusations, all focusing on the question of whether she had donated money beyond prayers.
Sammi Cheng clarified that like most people, she had already made a donation of 1 million Hong Kong dollars through her assistant on the same day the tragedy occurred. The funds were allocated to the Red Cross and Yan Chai Hospital. Emphasizing that she is not one to boast about her charitable deeds, she stressed that the essence of giving is to be able to help others and not to seek recognition or publicity. Her main concern is that the donated funds are effectively utilized and distributed to those in need.
Furthermore, Sammi Cheng spoke up for the power of prayer, stating that in her heart, prayer is a force and not just an empty gesture. In conclusion, she expressed regret for having to write the explanation regarding her donation, but she wanted to clear up any misunderstandings from the public. She underscored that while monetary donations are important, they are not the sole way to show support. Sometimes, a warm greeting or a loving word may provide more comfort to shattered and displaced hearts than money alone.