Families of slain NYPD officer Wenjian Liu (left) and Rafael Ramos (right) accept the $1 million anonymous donation from Hong Kong at Detectives' Endowment Association on Jan 16 in New York. Lu Huiquan / For China Daily

The families of two New York City policemen who were shot to death last month have been given a $1 million donation from an anonymous Hong Kong businessman.

The donation was presented to the families of Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos on Jan 16. Liu, 32, and Ramos, 40, were shot dead as they sat in a patrol car on Dec 20 in Brooklyn by Ismaaiyl Brinsley, who then shot himself to death in a nearby subway station.

At the presentation of the donation by theDetectives' Endowment Association (DEA),Liu's wife Pei Xia Chen's eyes were swollen and she burst into tears when it was announced by DEA officers. Ramos's wifeMaritza Ramos appeared calmer but tightly held the hands of her two sons, Justin and Jaden, during the ceremony.

"I am still in a sad mood today, [but] I am thankful for everyone's help and comfort," said Wenjian Liu's father Wei Tang Liu, who lost his only child. He declined to disclose how the family would use the money. The Ramos family also declined to comment.

The businessman has multiple enterprises and is a friend of Sing Tao Daily, a Hong Kong-based Chinese-language newspaper with a presence in the United States, Canada, Australia and other countries with large Chinese communities, according to the newspaper.

He approached the newspaper to facilitate the donation in December. The donation was then made to theDEA, one of the largest labor unions representing the city's police department, which was asked to keep the donor's anonymity.

The $1 million donation will be split evenly between the two families. Liu's parents will receive $100,000 a year for five years, and Ramos family will receive their portion exclusively for the deceased officer's children's education fund.

"The tragic event had a profound effect worldwide," said Michael Lamberti, an attorney on behalf of Sing Tao Daily, and the CEO of its Eastern US operations, Robin Mui. "The resulting sympathy has no cultural boundaries and has no geographical limits," he said.

The anonymous donation will help their families families "move on financially without their loved ones," said Michael Palladino, DEA's president.

"New York City and the entire of the world have been with you. You have been with a million angels, not only through the country, but also throughout the world," said New York Congresswoman Grace Meng to both families. "You have shown such grace, dignity and strength that is really inspiration to all of us."

Both families also have received other financial aid. The Stephen Siller Tunnel To Towers Foundation, a non-profit organization that helps military veterans and firefighters, has raised enough money to pay the mortgages of both families. The New York Yankees will pay for the education of Ramos's two sons. Bowdoin College has provided full financial support for Justin Ramos, who is at the Maine college. Various Chinese and Latin American communities have also been raising money for the families.

Lu Huiquan in New York contributed to this story.