More than a third of people in areas affected by the May 12 earthquake want to buy low-cost houses from the government, a report by the Ministry of Science and Technology said on Friday.

"Housing continues to be a major problem for people in the quake areas," Wang Yuan, executive director of the Chinese Academy of Science and Technology for Development (CASTD), said.

The report was based on the findings of a study, conducted in June and July, of more than 4,000 families in Sichuan. It was conducted with help from Norwegian researchers.

The study found that 36 percent of the families want to buy cheap government homes, while 29 percent want subsidies and 20 percent want low-rent houses.

"The report is an important reference point for the government in drawing up a more people-oriented reconstruction plan," Wang said.

Zhao Yandong, a researcher with the CASTD, said: "There's a big gap between the actual housing subsidies people get from the government and their expectations."

Central and local governments began offering subsidies in August to help people rebuild their homes. The amounts varied depending on the size of the family.

Meanwhile, also on Friday, the Finnish government donated 400,000 euros (US$530,000) to China's quake fund in response to the UN China Appeal for the Wenchuan Earthquake Early Recovery Support launched in July.

The money will be used to help vulnerable groups, Paavo Vayrynen, Finland's Minister of Foreign Trade and Development, said in Beijing.

(China Daily December 13, 2008)