The Venetian Macau Limited (VML) yesterday donated some 2.5 million patacas raised by its staff members to the Chinese Liaison Office in Macau to aid the Sichuan quake relief.

The fund-raising initiative of staff members came after chairman and CEO of Las Vegas Sands Corp, Sheldon Adelson, donated five million patacas to support the quake victims on May 14.

President of Asian Development of Las Vegas Sands Corp, Eric Chiu, led five VML staff members to the Chinese Liaison Office and transferred a cheque of 2.57 million patacas to deputy director of the economic department, Li Chun Man.

All the donation will be used to fund emergency quake relief and provide instant assistance for victims in affected areas, a company press release said.

Mr Chiu expressed his sympathy and concern to the quake victims and said the staff members hoped that the donation could help them overcome the hardship and restore their normal lives as soon as possible.