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The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSARG) released $354.26 million from the Disaster Relief Fund in 2010-11, to support various government authorities and relief organisations in providing early relief to victims of major disasters that occurred outside Hong Kong.
The amount represents the sum of grants made for 37 relief projects run by Mainland government authorities and nine relief organisations, namely ADRA China, the Amity Foundation, the Association of Chinese Evangelical Ministry, Operation Blessing Hong Kong, the Salvation Army Hong Kong and Macau Command, Save the Children, Social Workers Across Borders, Oxfam Hong Kong and World Vision Hong Kong.
Details of the relief projects are as follows:
* Ten grants totalling $138.59 million for providing relief to drought victims in Guangxi, Guizhou and Yunnan;
* Seven grants totalling $117.64 million for providing relief to earthquake victims in Qinghai;
* Eight grants totalling $72.33 million for providing relief to flood and mudslide victims in Gansu, Guangxi, Hunan, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Sichuan and Yunnan;
* Three grants totalling $3.3 million for providing relief to earthquake victims in Yunnan;
* Six grants totalling $12.25 million for providing relief to flood victims in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka;
* A grant of $3 million for providing relief to typhoon victims in the Philippines;
* A grant of $6.15 million for providing relief to earthquake victims in New Zealand; and
* A grant of $1 million for providing relief to earthquake victims in Japan.
Relief organisations receiving grants from the Fund are required to submit evaluation reports and audited accounts to the HKSARG on the use of the grants after the completion of the relief projects.
The Disaster Relief Fund, administered by the Administration Wing under the Chief Secretary for Administration's Office, provides an effective channel for the Government to respond swiftly to international appeals for humanitarian aid in relief of disasters that occur outside Hong Kong. The annual report on the activities of the Fund for the year 2010-11 has been uploaded on the website of the Administration Wing at www.admwing.gov.hk/eng/links/drfund.htm.
The Fund is operated from a capital amount of $50 million provided by the HKSARG when it was established. The Government tops up the fund at the beginning of each financial year and applies to the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council for additional funding as necessary during the financial year, depending on calls for relief and the size of the fund balance and commitments.
The Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee is responsible for advising the Government on the policy and practices regarding disbursement of funds for disaster relief and on specific amounts to recipients, as well as monitoring the use of grants.
The Committee is chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration. Members include Professor Anthony Cheung, Mr V Nee Yeh, Mrs Sophie Leung, Mr Wong Sing-chi, Mrs Alice Chong, Mr Leo Kung, the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury and the Secretary for Labour and Welfare.
Ends/Thursday, June 30, 2011
Issued at HKT 18:12
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