Spirit of volunteerism

The April 14 earthquake in Yushu of Qing Hai province has proven to be as merciless as the one that hit Wenchuan in Sichuan province almost two years ago. But Hong Kong volunteer Huang Furong's death sends a message: That the altruism displayed by many people in Yushu county's ongoing rescue and relief work provides the ray of hope that gives us the courage to take on natural disasters and contribute to the building of an even brighter future.

Huang could have survived the Yushu quake had he not returned to rescue three students and a teacher trapped inside a collapsed building. He rushed into the building twice to save others, until he himself was trapped inside.

Huang reportedly once said it would be "happiness from heaven" if he died as a volunteer.