CHOW Sang Sang Jewellery Company, which lost 22 employees on the 15th floor of the Garley Building, increased its relief fund to $8 million last night.

Each victim's family will receive an initial $180,000 tomorrow. Another sum, equivalent to 17.8 months' basic salary, will be given to victims' families on January 31, the company announced.

Deputy general manager Vincent Chow said: " Everyone in the company is deeply depressed to have lost a group of valuable colleagues. We feel strongly about providing support to the families of our unfortunate colleagues."

Meanwhile the Government last night announced families are to receive emergency cash payments of $5,000 each to ease any immediate money worries.

Senior officials met relatives for several hours last night to outline practical measures in the aftermath of the fire.

Afterwards Home Affairs Director Shelley Lau Lee Lai-kuen said arrangements were being made for families to each be given five minutes at the Pilkem Street site tonight to pay their respects.

She said they had also discussed the pressing issue of identification of bodies and how the Government was trying to speed up the process.

Ms Lau said initial criticism about delays was understandable given the " emotional state" of loved ones seeking the return of bodies for burial.

She stressed police were using the most sophisticated techniques, including DNA profiling, to get the quickest possible results. But she added that " it may take several weeks" in many difficult cases.

According to Ms Lau, the Urban and Regional councils had suggested a " communal cremation" of remains which proved unidentifiable, with the ashes to be shared among families.

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