Chinese shop owners at Dragon Mart raised nearly Dh300,000 as part of relief efforts for the Sichuan quake victims, a community leader here said.
Guang Jun Wei, an organiser of the 90-minute fund drive, yesterday said: "The outpouring of support from small businessmen here shows that Chinese people have big hearts and care about their brethren."
Guang said separate teams were tasked to do the collection and auditing of funds to ensure transparency. Donations will be turned over "immediately" to the Chinese Consulate in Dubai.
"Initially, I didn’t expect even 200 people to help. The fact that 505 shop owners turned up to give their share is quite heartening. Even people from the Dragon Mart management have donated."
Sam Luo, a machinery wholesaler, said Chinese communities in other Gulf countries have also started their own fund drives. "You can’t watch TV these days and not be moved by the effect of natural disasters," he said.
Jianxin Lin, China’s Acting Consul-General in Dubai, said the mission has been flooded with phone calls from citizens wanting to donate.
China quake toll reaches 
