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The Hong Kong Government, responding to a request from Indonesia, has procured and arranged air-freight of 20 tonnes of relief supplies, including tents and blankets to help needy victims of the earthquake disaster in Yogyakarta. Total value of the relief package is $980,000 and the first consignment of supplies is scheduled to arrive in Jakarta tomorrow (June 7).
A government spokesman said today (June 6) that the direct shipment at the government-to-government level had been made possible under a special mechanism set up by the Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee for this major disaster. The mechanism enables the Hong Kong Government to respond quickly to direct appeals for aid in cash or in kind from the Indonesian government.
In line with the established arrangements for grants made under the fund, the recipient country will provide the Hong Kong Government with an evaluation report on the disbursement of the grant in six months.
Free freight arrangements were generously offered by the Cathay Pacific Airways and Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited.
Several relief agencies have indicated that they will shortly submit grant applications for emergency relief to earthquake victims in Indonesia. All these applications to the committee will be processed as expeditiously as possible to provide timely relief to the victims.
The Disaster Relief Fund was established in December, 1993, for emergency disaster relief in places outside Hong Kong. The committee is responsible for advising the Government on the policy and practices regarding the disbursement of funds for disaster relief, 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/Tuesday, June 6, 2006
Issued at HKT 17:13
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