HK grants 1.2 mln USD to help quake victims in Nepal

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government Wednesday approved two grants totaling 9.345 million HK dollars (about 1.2 million U.S. dollars) for the earthquake relief in Nepal.

The government made the decision advised by the region's Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee.

The two grants will be distributed to two agencies -- one of 5. 846 million HK dollars to Amity Foundation, Hong Kong and one of 3. 499 million HK dollars to Habitat for Humanity Hong Kong. They would facilitate the provision of timely relief to the victims and help them restore their normal living.

The committee hoped that the two grants will be dedicated to providing relief to the earthquake victims in Nepal.

The grants are further to the disbursement of 57 million HK dollars made earlier for the government of Nepal and an agency to provide emergency relief to victims affected by the earthquake. It takes the accumulative value of grants for earthquake victims in Nepal to 66.345 million HK dollars.

A spokesman for the HKSAR government said that to ensure the money will be used for the designated purposes, Amity Foundation, Hong Kong and Habitat for Humanity Hong Kong would be asked to submit evaluation reports and audited accounts on the use of the grants after the relief projects have been completed.

On April 25, Nepal was struck by a 7.9-magnitude earthquake, leaving more than 8,000 people dead; a 7.4-magnitude aftershock took place on May 12, causing further casualties. (1 U.S. dollar equals 7.75 HK dollars) Endi