Emergency relief for flood victims in Nepal
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    The Government has accepted the advice of the Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee and approved a grant of $1.2 million from the Disaster Relief Fund to Hong Kong Red Cross to undertake relief project for flood victims in Nepal.

     In addition to two disbursements in August totalling $5.06 million for emergency relief to flood victims in Bangladesh, India and Nepal, this grant takes the total value of grants for flood victims in South Asia to $6.26 million.

     Announcing the grant today (September 11), a government spokesman said the committee hoped the grant to Hong Kong Red Cross would help provide relief to flood victims in Nepal.

     "To ensure that the money will be used for the designated purposes, the relief agency has been asked to submit evaluation report and audited account on the use of the grant after the relief project has 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/Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Issued at HKT 18:00

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