China's Macao Special Administration Region will spend 5.5 billion patacas (US$688 million) in the next three to five years funding the rebuilding of the country's quake-stricken Sichuan Province, Chief Executive of the SAR Ho Hau Wah announced on Thursday.

An ad hoc group, headed by the SAR's Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Chui Sai On, will leave for Sichuan on August 16 and ascertain the rebuilding projects there which will be supported by the SAR, said Ho.

He also said that an initial fund of 300 million patacas will probably be allocated to meet the urgent needs of Guangyuan, a city of Sichuan severely damaged in the earthquake.

Macao sent three medical teams to the quake-stricken area for relief operations respectively on May, June and July this year.

(Xinhua News Agency August 14, 2008)