Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government (HKSARG) released a total of 15.5 million (1.98 million US dollars) from the Disaster Relief Fund to provide immediate relief to people in distress outside Hong Kong in the year ending March 31, 2004.

According to a government press release Saturday, it brings the total amount of grants disbursed to some 295 million HK dollars (37.82 million HK dollars) since its establishment in December 1993.

In response to appeals made by international relief organizations, grants were disbursed to places outside Hong Kong that were hard-hit by major disasters.

For 2003-04, assistance was given through eight relief projects operated by three relief organizations to help tide victims over the calamities that had fallen upon them. The three relief organizations are Hong Kong Red Cross, the Association of Chinese Evangelical Ministry Ltd. and World Vision Hong Kong.

The latest grant of 0.5 million HK dollars (64,102 US dollars) was approved in March this year to help earthquake victims in Iran and a total of 4.5 million HK dollars (576,923 US dollars) was disbursed for this disaster.

In April 2003, two grants totaling 2 million HK dollars (256,410 US dollars) were made out to meet the urgent needs of earthquake victims in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Later last year in August, two more disbursements totaling 8 million (1.2 million) were sent to provide assistance to flood victims in Anhui, Jiangxi Guangxi, Hunan and Guizhou Provinces.

Relief organizations receiving grants from the fund are required to submit their evaluation reports and audited accounts to the HKSAR government 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 a useful and effective channel for the government to respond swiftly to international appeals for humanitarian aid.

Source: Xinhua