XN000022-1979-03-07 — Page 2

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 1979

$720,000 PAID OUT FROM EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND

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ABOUT $720,000 FROM THE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND WAS PAID OUT TO NEEDY PEOPLE DURING THE LAST FINANCIAL YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 1978.

THIS WAS ABOUT ONE QUARTER OF THE RELIEF PAYMENTS MADE IN 1976-77 WHICH AMOUNTED TO $2,706,000.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT THE SHARP DROP IN PAYMENT WAS DUE TO THE FACT THAT NO SIGNIFICANT NATURAL DISASTERS OCCURRED DURING THE PERIOD.

+LARGE PAYMENTS WERE MADE IN 1976-77 BECAUSE OF TYPHOON ELLEN, THE SAU MAU PING LANDSLIDE AND MANY FLOODINGS, SHE POINTED OUT.

+IN THE LAST FINANCIAL YEAR $604,550 WAS PAID OUT AS RE-ACCOMMODATION AND RE-EQUIPMENT GRANTS WHICH ACCOUNTED FOR ABOUT 84 PER CENT OF THE YEAR'S PAYMENT.

TOPPING LAST YEAR'S LIST OF GRANT RECIPIENTS WERE FIRE VICTIMS WHO RECEIVED $454,000.

LAST YEAR, THE FUND RECEIVED $850,500 FROM REVENUE $800,000 FROM GOVERNMENT GRANTS AND THE REST FROM PUBLIC DONATIONS.

THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED +GRANTS AND LOANS ARE ONLY MADE TO PEOPLE IN NEED OF RELIEF AS A RESULT OF FIRE, FLOODING, TYPHOON OR NATURAL DISASTERS.

+GRANTS FROM THE FUND ARE AVAILABLE FOR DEATH OR PERSONAL INJURY- DOMESTIC RE-ACCOMMODATION AND RE-EQUIPMENT EXPENSES- REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF VESSELS- AGRICULTURAL LOSS AND SPECIAL CASES, SHE ADDED.

THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR APPROVING GRANTS AND MAKING PAYMENTS IS, IN MOST CASES, VESTED IN OFFICERS OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, THE HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT, THE MARINE DEPARTMENT AND THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT.

THE FUND WAS FIRST INTRODUCED IN JUNE 1962 AS THE COMMUNITY RELIEF TRUST FUND AND WAS RENAMED THE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND IN 1973.

THE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND COMMITTEE FUNCTIONS UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE.

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