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The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSARG) released $41.53 million from the Disaster Relief Fund in the year ending March 31, 2012 to support government authorities and various relief organisations in providing early relief to victims of major disasters which occurred outside Hong Kong.
The amount represents the sum of grants made towards 18 relief projects run by the Japanese Government and six relief organisations, namely ADRA China, the Amity Foundation, the Association of Chinese Evangelical Ministry, Oxfam Hong Kong, Save the Children and World Vision Hong Kong.
Details of the relief projects are as follows:
* four grants totalling $7.72 million for providing relief to drought victims in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, as well as Guizhou and Yunnan Provinces;
* three grants totalling $8.81 million for providing relief to flood victims in Hunan, Guizhou, Jiangxi and Sichuan Provinces;
* two grants totalling $6 million for providing relief to drought victims in Ethiopia;
* a grant of $3 million for providing relief to drought victims in Kenya;
* three grants totalling $4.5 million for providing relief to typhoon victims in the Philippines;
* two grants totalling $4 million for providing relief to flood victims in Thailand;
* a grant of $5 million for providing relief to earthquake/tsunami victims in Japan;
* a grant of $2 million for providing relief to earthquake victims in Myanmar; and
* a grant of $0.5 million for providing relief to flood victims in Cambodia.
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 2011-12 has been uploaded on the website of the Administration Wing at www.admwing.gov.hk/eng/links/drfund.htm0.
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 the scale of calls for relief, the size of the fund balance and commitments.
The Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee is responsible for advising the Government on 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 21, 2012
Issued at HKT 16:51
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