Concern as disaster fund gets $70m more

The Legislative Council's finance committee has approved an injection of HK$70 million into the Disaster Relief Fund to support residents in the mainland affected by severe rainstorms and floods under the influence of typhoon Doksuri last month.

The government has said it will donate HK$65 million through nine organizations under the Disaster Relief Fund to help victims of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and northeast China that were hit hard by the recent severe rainstorms and floods.

Thirty-three people have died and 18 are missing, while 1.29 million people were affected by Beijing's heaviest rains on record.

Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki told the committee yesterday there were more organizations planning to apply for funding to help with disaster relief efforts.

Some are applying for a total of HK$9 million to support victims in the Philippines and India hit by Doksuri and flooding.

"That has put the total approved disaster relief funding at HK$97 million, but the balance is around HK$72 million, which is insufficient, and the fund also needs funding to deal with possible demand in the second half," he added in suggesting a HK$70 million injection be made into the fund.

But members - including Tik Chi-yuen of the Third Side - cast doubts over whether there is a mechanism in place to make sure funds got into victims' hands.

Tik, representing the social welfare sector, was concerned over whether the organizations - being mostly first-time applicants that have close ties with the mainland - are capable of helping aid efforts.

Chan, however, said there is a mechanism in place for funding approvals and that standards would not be lowered for them.

"We will scrutinize the organizations' capabilities and their track record," he said, adding that organizations would be monitored to ensure they are working as planned.

"We might also deploy officers if needed and require organizations to submit an audit report to ensure taxpayers' money are serving its purpose," he added.

Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong chairwoman Starry Lee Wai-king said HK$70 million is not a small amount and expressed hope for "more specific reports."

Chan said the number of victims affected have reached five million, making the funding relatively higher.

"The government will scrutinize organizations' applications to avoid repeated funding, and will also avoid letting multiple organizations help relief efforts in the same prefecture or city," Chan said.

As more than 30 Legco members have ties with the organizations, only some of them joined in the discussions and the vote.

Ma Fung-kwok, for the Election Committee, said he forgot which organization he has ties to and questioned whether every member has to make a declaration.

Committee head Ronick Chan Chun-ying said only those involved in the organizations' daily operations should make a declaration to avoid a conflict of interest.