HK approves emergency relief for cyclone victims in Bangladesh

HONG KONG, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- The government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) had approved a grant of 3 million HK dollars (385,306 U.S. dollars) from the Disaster Relief Fund to World Vision Hong Kong to undertake a relief project for cyclone victims in Bangladesh, a HKSAR governmental official said here Wednesday.

The spokesman said that the decision was made on the advice the Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee and that he hoped the grant to World Vision Hong Kong would help provide relief to cyclone victims in Bangladesh.

"To ensure that the money will be used for the designated purposes, the relief agency has been asked to submit evaluation reports and audited accounts 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 HKSAR government on 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.