Sir Run Run Shaw, seen in a file photo, was honored on Monday with a lifetime honorary award from the China Charity Awards. [File Photo: cnsphoto]

Hong Kong media mogul Sir Run Run Shaw was honored Monday with a lifetime honorary award from the China Charity Awards, China's top official awards for the field.

Sir Run Run Shaw was among the 11 honorees selected by a judge panel and 13 million Internet voters, Xinhua news agency reported.

Centenarian Shaw, co-founder of Hong Kong's dominant filmmaking Shaw Studios and a long-time philanthropist, has altogether donated 2.5 billion Hong Kong dollars (US$321 million) to support the development in a range of fields on the mainland, reported Xinhua.

The China Charity Awards, founded in 2005, is held annually by the Ministry of Civil Affairs. The Awards recognize individuals and organizations for their contributions to supporting education, medical service, disaster and poverty relief, as well as environmental protection.

Other honorees this year include Chen Guangbiao, president of a recycling business in Jiangsu Province, and HSBC for being a generous donor.

Official statistics show that China has an annual 60 million disaster victims and roughly the equal number of disabled people in need of help.

The country had over 380,000 charity organizations as of the end of last year. They have helped to raise about 86.5 billion yuan (US$12 billion) in 2007, according to Xinhua.

(CRI April 15,2008)