Financial assistance, ranging from $3 million to $3.6 million, will be granted to the families of three healthcare workers who died of SARS.

The Committee on Financial Assistance for Family Members of those who Sacrifice their Lives to Save Others considered the three cases and endorsed financial assistance for the families.

The three cases include United Christian Hospital Health Care Assistant Lau Kam-yung, Prince of Wales Hospital Wong Kang-tai and Tai Po Hospital Doctor Kate Cheng.

In recognition of their gallant acts, the families of Ms Lau and Ms Wong will each be granted about $3 million while $3.6 million will be granted to Dr Cheng's family.

Chairperson of the committee, Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong, said the three heroes' selfless devotion to the community, together with their professionalism, commands our greatest respect.

The financial assistance scheme represents the Government's recognition of the gallant acts and in a practical sense, our respect for the heroism they have displayed in serving the Hong Kong community, he added.

The scheme was set up in January last year. A committee chaired by the Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food and comprising four non-official members, was set up to serve as the approving authority for the scheme. 

Under the scheme, financial assistance for each approved application is worked out according to a formula having regard to the age and normal retirement age of the deceased and the prevailing median monthly employment earnings, with minimum and maximum levels at $3 million and $6 million at present.

Payment will be funded from the Government's General Revenue.