Project Hope, a charitable organization that helps poor children in China afford an education, recently received a unique donation, 10,000 bottles of liquor and wine from Shanghai Pudong International Airport.

The booze was donated by the local airport authority, which has collected thousands of bottles from airline passengers unaware of a ban on carrying alcohol on commercial flights.

The liquor will be auctioned off to raise money for the charity.

China's civil aviation authority announced a rule early last year on banning air travelers from taking wine or liquor on board planes with them, except for bottles purchased at a duty free shop. Passengers can carry up to two bottles in their checked baggage.

"Though we announced the rule to the public, many passengers still don't know about it and they take wine to the security check where they have to leave it at the counter," said Wu Zhongqing, an official with the security check department at Pudong International Airport.

Wu said the authority will continue to donate confiscated bottles to Project Hope.

(Shanghai Daily April 29, 2004)