Jane Lai

    JERRY LEE SMITH, chairman of New Evolution Lighting, pledged a donation of US$5,000 in the name of late Chinese leader Deng Xiao-ping, at the party Saturday.

    “I would like to donate in the name of Deng Xiaoping, and I hope people in Sichuan will recover soon,” said Smith, who will hand over a check to the city’s charity association Tuesday.

    An admirer of Deng, Smith said the late Chinese leader had changed the lives of millions of Chinese people.

    “Deng had a vision of a better country, and the rest of world appreciates Deng’s sacrifices and humanity. I believe President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao are learning from Deng, and they are guiding the relief work in the quake-stricken regions in accordance with Deng’s ideology,” Smith said in an interview with the Shenzhen Daily on Saturday.

    “I have been to 140 countries and seen a lot of suffering, but the May 12 earthquake was certainly a disaster unlike anything I have seen,” he added. “The death toll is shocking, and those that got injured in the quake need time to recover and get over the terrible experience.”

    A father of six, Smith said he knew exactly how pained parents would feel after losing their children. He added that he was more than satisfied with the Chinese government’s response.

    “I’m proud of Wen Jiabao for what he has done during these days, and I was moved by what the Chinese military force had done everyday when I watched TV,” Smith said, struggling to hold back tears.

    Smith said expats in Shenzhen should consider assisting in the relief work in the quake areas.

    “Expats should think about helping with the relief work, particularly the homeless and the orphans. We should do more to help,” Smith said.