************************************************
The Government has accepted the advice of the Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee and approved two grants from the Disaster Relief Fund totalling $5.06 million to two relief agencies for relief projects for flood victims in Bangladesh, India and Nepal.
Announcing the grants today (August 22), a government spokesman said the committee hoped the two grants - one of $3.56 million to Oxfam Hong Kong and another one of $1.5 million to World Vision Hong Kong – would help provide relief to flood victims in the three countries.
"To ensure that the money will be used for the designated purposes, the two relief agencies have been asked to submit evaluation reports and audited accounts on the use of the grants after the relief projects have been completed," 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 Labour and Welfare.
Ends/Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Issued at HKT 18:00
NNNN