Around a hundred patrons packed a bar in Central on Monday night to raise funds for victims of catastrophic flash floods and mudslides in Nepal, as members of Hong Kong’s Nepalese community rallied to support relief efforts for their homeland.
The death toll in Nepal had risen to 919 as of 1pm on Monday, with 4,247 people still missing, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported.
The disaster struck on Wednesday when a massive wall of mud and rock collapsed into a river along the Himalayan border between Nepal and Tibet, unleashing devastating torrents downstream.
At cocktail bar Orchard in Central, the fundraising event kicked off at 7pm on Monday in a collaboration between its Nepalese founder and fellow operators and workers from three other venues, who teamed up to craft signature drinks dedicated to their homeland.
Hong Kong is home to a Nepalese community of roughly 30,000.
Among the patrons was Shreya Rai, a 27-year-old Nepalese public relations professional who was born and raised in Hong Kong. Joining two friends at the bar, she described the fundraiser as a meaningful cause close to her heart.
“There is no other reason to drink on a Monday,” Rai said.
Though her relatives lived in a remote village in east Nepal, away from the affected area in the north, she remained worried.
Their remote, mountainous village was prone to flooding, and rugged roads made evacuating with their belongings nearly impossible, Rai said, adding that she was in constant touch with them in a bid to ensure their safety.
Bidhya Shrestha, a friend of Rai who works in the compliance industry, said she came to support families affected by the floods.
The fundraising initiative also drew non-Nepalese residents.
Delphine Kong, a 33-year-old Hongkonger who works in the food and beverage sector, said she felt duty-bound to support the fundraiser initiated by the community.
“They were very fast to react,” Kong said. “It is a tragic event but the vibe here is still full of hope in raising funds for a meaningful initiative.”
Dipesh Rai, a 27-year-old bartender at Orchard who grew up splitting his time between Nepal and Hong Kong, volunteered to work during his day off.
“I had to come. The Nepalese community is small and it is great to gather for such a great cause,” Rai said. “The number of people affected has been increasing by the hour ... it is really sad.”
All proceeds from the night’s sales will be donated directly to the official government-run disaster relief fund in Nepal, according to Orchard founder Alex Pun.
The 40-year-old restaurateur said the idea of the fundraiser took shape immediately after the flood, when he reached out to four fellow Nepalese operators and bartenders from three bars.
With many Nepalese working in hospitality, Pun said he wanted to “mobilise people from the industry to help”.
He said he was deeply touched after local friends texted him to ask after his family’s safety in Nepal, which spurred him to take action.
Pun, who has been living in Hong Kong since 2003, said he aimed to raise HK$50,000 (US$6,400) from the night’s takings.
