he action movie icon offers the reward in the hope that it will incentivise researchers.
Action movie legend Jackie Chan is offering a million-yuan (Dh526,000) reward to whoever develops an antidote to Wuhan’s novel coronovirus.
According to The actor 65-year-old Hong Kong native made the announcement in a Weibo post.
“Science and technology is key to overcoming the virus, and I believe many people have the same thought as me and hope that an antidote can be developed as soon as possible,” Chan wrote.
“I have a ‘naive’ idea now. No matter which individual or organisation develops the antidote, I want to thank them with 1 million yuan.”
He hoped that his intention would not be misunderstood.
“This is not about money. I don’t want to see the once-bustling streets empty now and do not want to see my compatriots fighting a virus until some of them are dead when they should be enjoying life.”
His post has received more than 55,000 likes, with netizens praising his move, with some even suggesting that he raise the reward to 10 million yuan (approximately Dh5,260,000).
The city of Wuhan has been quarantined after it was identified as the epicentre of the novel coronavirus epidemic, which has claimed the lives of 908 people in mainland China.