World Vision Hong Kong announced in Hong Kong Friday its annual Old Book Recycling Campaign has raised 1.2 million HK dollars this year to support children in poverty in southwest China's Yunnan Province.

Organized by World Vision Hong Kong, the campaign kicked-off in July and ended in August of this year and has collected about 220,000 books. In addition, the 10-day charity sale of books at the Atrium of East Point City, Tseung Kwan O attracted 26,000 patrons in total.

According to Chief Executive Officer of World Vision Hong Kong Kevin Chiu, the funding raised this year will be used to provide the Tibetan children in Yunnan with education, nutritious food and health care. "We are delighted that with the full support of the public, the Campaign becomes the largest old book sale in town. We hope that the public will continue to join hands with us to fight against poverty, leading more needy people towards self-reliance."

World Vision Hong Kong has been organizing the Old Book Recycling Campaign every July and August since 1992. The event encourages the public to donate their used books for charity sale to raise funds for projects in the mainland.

(Xinhua News Agency October 9, 2004)