Six Disaster Relief Fund grants totalling more than $223 million have been approved for three Mainland provincial and municipal governments, and three relief agencies to aid snowstorm victims.

The Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee recommended $100 million each be given to the Hunan and Guizhou provincial governments, $10 million to the Shaoguan municipal government, $7.76 million to the Salvation Army for relief in Anhui and Hunan, $5 million to World Vision for relief in Anhui, Guangxi, Hunan and Jiangxi, and $670,000 to Oxfam for aid in Gansu.

The recipients must provide the Hong Kong Government an evaluation report on the disbursement of the grant in six months, while the relief agencies must submit evaluation reports and audited accounts once relief projects have been completed.

Together with an $8 million disbursement made February 1 for the Red Cross to provide emergency relief to six provinces, the total grants for Mainland snowstorm victims amount to $231.43 million.

The Legislative Council Finance Committee today endorsed $250 million relief and rehabilitation work. In a LegCo paper the Administration Wing proposed donations to the hardest hit areas Hunan, Guizhou and Shaoguan be expedited due deteriorating conditions.

Several major relief organisations have submitted or will submit applications for grants from the fund. More applications are expected. The Financial Secretary will seek the Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee's advice before making the grants.

The snowstorms have affected more than 77.8 million people in 19 provinces, claiming 60 lives, forcing the relocation of 1.7 million people, leading to the collapse of 223,000 houses and inundating over 7.2 million hectares of farmland. The inclement weather has also wreaked havoc on the transportation system and the electricity network, causing a food shortage in many affected areas.