**********************************************************
The Sir Robert Ho Tung Charitable Fund has allocated $11.3 million to 138 charitable projects in the areas of medical and health, rehabilitation, social welfare, special education, community and anti-narcotics.
"This generous donation enables 90 organisations to improve and extend their services for the benefit of the local community," Chairperson of the Fund's Allocation Committee, Deputy Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Miss Eliza Lee, said today (September 11).
Some of the major grants include:
* $1.26 million for the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals to acquire equipment for the elderly and chronically ill patients, and to organise education camps for children with intellectual disability;
* $591,000 for the Cheshire Home, Chung Hom Kok to replace a hospital van for patient transportation;
* $550,000 for the United Christian Hospital to replace a cardiac ultrasound machine for the needy patients;
* $500,000 for the Samaritan Fund to provide financial assistance to disadvantaged patients to meet medical expenses;
* $333,000 to the Hong Kong St.John Ambulance to replace the trunked radios for the Hong Kong St.John Ambulance Brigade;
* $331,000 for the Salvation Army to acquire equipment and organise programmes for children and youth; and
* $300,000 to the Hong Kong Student Aid Society to conduct renovation works for the Ho Tung House of Island Hostel.
* Other fund recipients include the Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Family Planning Association of Hong Kong, Yan Chai Hospital, Hong Chi Association, Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children, Boys' Brigade Hong Kong and Christian Action.
* As one of the major trust funds in Hong Kong, the Sir Robert Ho Tung Charitable Fund was set up in 1956 with a bequest of $500,000 by the late Sir Robert Ho Tung. It is now managed by the HSBC Trustee (Hong Kong) Limited.
Ends/Monday, September 11, 2006
Issued at HKT 13:10
NNNN
