The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSARG) released $37 million from the Disaster Relief Fund in the year ending March 31, 2005, to provide immediate relief to people in distress outside Hong Kong. It brings the total amount of grants disbursed to some $332 million since the fund was established in December, 1993.
In response to appeals made by governments and international relief organisations, grants were disbursed to places outside Hong Kong that were hard-hit by major disasters for early relief of victims.
For 2004-05, assistance was given through 18 relief projects operated by seven relief organisations to help tide victims over the calamities that had befallen them. The seven relief organisations are the Association of Chinese Evangelical Ministry Ltd., Cedar Fund, Hong Kong Red Cross, Medecins Sans Frontieres, Oxfam Hong Kong, the Salvation Army and World Vision Hong Kong. The Government has also responded to direct appeals from four governments of countries affected by the South Asian earthquake and tsunami for cash grants and relief supplies.
Since late December 2004, a total of 12 grants amounting to $24.77 million has been approved for the relief of earthquake and tsunami victims in India, Indonesia, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
In August and September, 2004, four disbursements totalling $6.59 million were sent to the needy affected by floods in Anhui, Henan, Hunan, Guangxi and Yunnan provinces on the Mainland. Two grants of $0.96 million and $1 million were further disbursed to help flood victims in Bangladesh and India respectively in August, 2004.
A grant of $1 million was made in August, 2004, for displaced people in Sudan. Another grant of $1 million was approved in September last year to help the drought victims in Kenya. Two more disbursements totalling $2 million were sent to provide assistance to typhoon victims in the Philippines in January this year.
Relief organisations receiving grants from the fund are required to submit their 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 fund is operated from a capital amount of $50 million provided by the HKSARG when it was established in 1993. The Government will top up the fund at the beginning of each financial year and apply to the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council for additional funding as necessary during the financial year, depending on calls for relief and the size of the fund balance and commitments.
The Disaster Relief Fund Advisory 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.