The December 26 disaster, which has left some 150,000 people dead in India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand, has galvanised Asians from all walks of life and of all ages.

Wealthy Hong Kongers have proven among the most generous, giving an estimated 51 million dollars to aid agencies, such as World Vision and Oxfam, trying to bring relief to millions affected by the tragedy.

The Red Cross in particular has received 27 million dollars from individuals and companies in the former British colony.

"The response has been unprecedented, it has gone well beyond our expectations," Almen Chui, spokeswoman for the Hong Kong Red Cross told AFP. "The money has come in so fast it's unbelievable."

Making the biggest mark has been the generosity of ordinary Asians who have gone to often great lengths to do their bit.

In Hong Kong some 500,000 dollars was collected last weekend during street collections by political parties and local schools, while revellers in Australia and New Zealand gave generously during charity New Year parties.

The fun fund-drives helped the two nations raise 76 million and 3.2 million dollars respectively.

Employees at Taiwan Cellular Group, meanwhile, donated a day's wages totaling some 345,900 dollars and in Australia's high-security Goulburn Jail inmates and staff pledged more than 4,500 dollars while 800 prisoners in a northern Malaysian jail donated 790 dollars.

Celebrities have answered the aid call too, raising millions in personal donations and through special concerts and TV shows.

In Hong Kong 70 local, Chinese and Taiwanese movie and pop stars recorded a Chinese-language version of the hit 1985 charity song "We Are the World" to promote a telethon organised for Friday.

A series of concerts last weekend by the likes of Andy Lau and girl duo Twins, raised more than a million dollars.

Lau and action hero Jackie Chan handed 200,000 dollars between them, and South Korean TV star Bae Yong-Jun -- known in Japan as Yonsama -- chipped in almost 300,000, helping bump his nation's pledges to 12.7 million dollars.

In Taiwan, where some seven million dollars has been raised, actress Sylvia Chang, a World Vision volunteer, gathered some 60 entertainers to help with an Internet charity auction Wednesday.

And pop singers including A-Mei, Jay Chou, Jolin Tsai and boy band F4 will perform at a concert Saturday in Taipei that is hoped to raise 1.26 million dollars.

Chinese film directors Chen Kaige and Feng Xiaogang have set up a donation hotline manned by film stars, which in its first six hours Tuesday collected 13,000 dollars. Chinese donations so far total 4.5 million dollars.

The single largest donation came Wednesday from Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, one of India's most revered Hindu gurus, who pledged 23.4 million dollars to construct houses for the survivors.

Thailand's revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej, whose 21-year-old grandson was killed in the waves while jet-skiing, donated a 770,000-dollar cheque.

Sports stars, especially tennis players competing in Australian Open warm-up tournaments in Asia, have served up handsome contributions.

American legends Venus and Serena Williams as well as Russian Wimbledon stunner Maria Sharapova lead a galaxy of stars in a Hong Kong tournament Wednesday that has already donated 64,000 dollars.

It follows pledges last week by top men's player Jonas Bjorkman and other competitors in a championship in Madras to donate their prize money. Those pledges contributed to the 90 million dollars raised so far in India.

Players at the New Zealand Classic WTA tennis tournament will also donate part of their fees.

"We have been amazed at the response. It's been the biggest response we can ever remember," World Vision's New Zealand spokeswoman Liz McIntyre said.

China's Olympic gold medalists hurdler Liu Xiang and swimmer Luo Xuejuan led a fund drive that drew 51,000 dollars its the first day Tuesday.

Cricketers have also come to the stumps. The cricket board in India donated 222,000 dollars while the Indian cricket team promised a day's match fees, about 4,000 dollars for each player.

In Australia the cricket Test team donated its 13,100 dollar bonus after beating Pakistan.

The region's religious orders have shown compassion to victims of all faiths with contributions from Christian church groups in Singapore -- a city that has so far collected 9.4 million dollars -- and Buddhist associations in Hong Kong, China and Taiwan, which have given a collective 1.2 million dollars.

Among corporate donors, Japanese carmaker Toyota has given a million dollars and Hong Kong's Hutchison Whampoa joined a charitable foundation set up by its chairman Li Ka Shing to give 3.1 million dollars.