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The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has extended the registration period by a week for local farmers suffering agricultural losses caused by the rainstorm on June 7 to apply for a grant from the Emergency Relief Fund.
The new deadline is June 27 (Friday).
A department spokesman said today (June 19) that an appropriate amount of relief funds would be released to affected farming households according to the level of damage suffered.
The department's preliminary investigation has revealed that about 120 hectares of farmland in the New Territories were affected by the heavy rain on June 7.
"The assistance is intended to provide some relief to affected farmers," the spokesman said.
The department has received 859 applications from farmers since the registration began on June 11. The department has been processing the applications and will release grants to eligible farmers as soon as possible.
Applicants for the fund should register at the division's office on 5/F, Yuen Long Government Offices, 2, Kiu Lok Square, Yuen Long, or call 2476 2424 for enquiries.
Ends/Thursday, June 19, 2008
Issued at HKT 11:40
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