Shenzhen has raised 633,000 yuan (US$76,727) to help 75 college recruits from impoverished families go to university.

The money was handed over at a ceremony at the Shenzhen Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau on Wednesday evening.

The largest donor is Gu Mingjun, owner of an electronics company, who gave 500,000 yuan (US$6,000).

Head of the municipal civil affairs bureau Liu Runhua said each new student needed about 10,000 yuan to start college life. He said that proceeds from the Shenzhen Welfare Lottery would help fill any shortfall.

A campaign to help needy students was launched in early June by the bureau and Shenzhen Economic Daily. Apart from Gu, who donated most of the money, many other individuals donated from 10,000 to several hundred yuan. About 80 workers at the Shenzhen Maritime Pilot Station donated more than 16,000 yuan. An important city official who called Liu, but insisted on remaining anonymous, donated 10,000 yuan. A man surnamed Qiu and his son donated 10,000 yuan and 2,000 yuan respectively.

Chen Shaoyun, who has been recruited by the Guangzhou-based Zhongshan University, said although his family was poor, he was lucky because of the financial help from the people.

(Shenzhen Daily August 20, 2004)