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The Government had accepted the advice of the Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee and approved two grants of $2 million each from the Disaster Relief Fund to the Salvation Army and World Vision Hong Kong respectively for emergency relief to earthquake victims in Yunnan Province, a government spokesman said today (June 14).
To ensure that the money would be used for the designated purposes, the spokesman said both the Salvation Army and World Vision Hong Kong had been asked to submit evaluation reports and audited accounts on the use of the grants after the relief projects had been completed.
"In view of the torrential rain in the southern parts of the Mainland in the past few days which have been causing widespread floods and severe loss of life and property, the Government is also actively liaising with relief organisations to mount relief programmes to help the flood victims," the spokesman said.
The Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee is responsible for advising the Government on the policy and practices regarding the disbursement of funding for disaster relief from the Disaster Relief Fund, which was established in December, 1993, for emergency disaster relief in places outside Hong Kong, as well as advising on specific amounts to specific recipients, and monitoring the use of grants.
The committee is chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration. Members include Mr Jasper Tsang Yok-sing, Mr Andrew Liao Cheung-sing, Mrs Sophie Leung Lau Yau-fun, Dr Kwok Ka-ki, Mr Michael Lai Kam-cheung, Mr Irving Koo Yee-yin, the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury and the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food.
Ends/Thursday, June 14, 2007
Issued at HKT 18:23
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