Hong Kong corporations and individuals have donated HK$172 million ($22.2 million) and 10,000 cans of milk powder to the mainland's earthquake-hit region, the central government's liaison office said on Tuesday.

A magnitude-7 earthquake hit Ya'an city in Southwest China's Sichuan province on April 20, leaving at least 196 people dead and 21 others missing.

The Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region publicized its special bank account on April 21 and called on Hong Kong people to donate for the quake-devastated region.

Leung Chun-ying, Hong Kong chief executive, proposed a donation of HK$100 million in public funds, but the donation was delayed on April 24 after two hours of debate since some people worried that the money might be misused due to lack of supervision, People's Daily reported.

A video clip of the debate circulated online, with many netizens suggesting mainland authorities be required to enhance supervision and transparency toward the donation.

Hong Kong scholar and poet Jao Tsung-I donated HK$500,000 through the liaison office on Tuesday. Many other Hong Kong people also actively donated, according to China News Service.

(China Daily 05/02/2013 page3)