***********************
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, at the request of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, Sichuan Provincial Peoples' Government, has procured and arranged air freight of tents worth about $3.7 million to help the needy victims of the Sichuan earthquake disaster. The relief supplies are scheduled to be delivered in batches and the first 1,000 tents will reach Sichuan on June 2.
The grant is further to a disbursement of $323.8 million made earlier for the relief headquarters of the Central Government; Disaster Relief Command of Yingxiu Town, Wenchuan County; The Amity Foundation; Hong Kong Red Cross and World Vision Hong Kong to provide emergency relief to victims affected by the earthquake. It takes the total value of grants for earthquake victims on the Mainland to $327.5 million.
A spokesman for the Government said today (May 29) that the direct shipment at government-to-government level had been made possible under a special mechanism set up by the Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee for this major disaster.
"The special mechanism enables the HKSAR Government to respond quickly to direct appeals for aid in kind from the governments of the affected provinces/counties and relevant Mainland authorities," the spokesman said.
In line with the established arrangements for grants made under the fund, the recipient government/authority would provide the HKSAR Government with a report to confirm the proper use of the supplies, the spokesman said.
Free freight arrangements were generously offered by Hong Kong Dragon Airlines Limited.
Ends/Thursday, May 29, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:33
NNNN
