Central bar fundraiser backs Nepal flood victims
SCMP · 1 SOURCES2 days ago2 MIN
Summary
Around 100 patrons filled Orchard, a cocktail bar in Central, on Monday evening for a fundraiser for victims of catastrophic flash floods and mudslides in Nepal . The event began at 7pm and was organised through a collaboration between the bar’s Nepalese founder and operators and workers from three other venues, who created signature drinks dedicated to Nepal . The gathering came as Nepal’s death toll reached 919 by 1pm on Monday, while 4,247 people were still missing after the disaster along the Nepal-Tibet Himalayan border . Hong Kong’s Nepalese community, estimated at about 30,000 people, was a visible force behind the relief push .
Key Points
- The disaster struck on Wednesday when a massive wall of mud and rock collapsed into a river on the Himalayan border between Nepal and Tibet .
- Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said the death toll had risen to 919 by 1pm Monday, with 4,247 people still missing .
- At Orchard in Central, the fundraiser started at 7pm, with teams from four venues serving Nepal-themed signature cocktails to donors .
- Nepalese Hongkonger Shreya Rai, 27, said there was “no other reason to drink on a Monday” as she supported the cause with friends .
- Rai said her relatives in a remote village in eastern Nepal were outside the main disaster zone, but flooding risks and difficult roads remained a worry .
Why It Matters
The event shows how Hong Kong’s Nepalese community can mobilise quickly in response to a disaster affecting families and friends overseas . It also drew support from non-Nepalese residents, underlining how local nightlife venues can become channels for cross-community relief efforts in the city .