An additional $20 million is set to be injected to top up the proposed Trust Fund for SARS, bringing the total one-off commitment to $150 million.

The trust fund was proposed to provide special ex-gratia assistance to SARS-affected families on compassionate grounds.

It comprised two portions:

* special ex-gratia relief payments for family members of deceased SARS patients; and,

* special ex-gratia financial assistance for recovered SARS patients suffering from longer-term effects attributable to SARS or arising from the treatment received for SARS, which might result in some degree of physical or psychological dysfunction.

The additional $20 million will increase the total amount for recovered SARS patients from the original $50 million to $70 million.

The Health, Welfare & Food Bureau said with the medical knowledge available to date, it is not possible to work out precisely the number of recovered SARS patients with medical needs.

It said it is difficult to estimate the amount of financial assistance needed for an individual applicant, which depends greatly on the medical and economic needs of the individual concerned.

However, the additional $20 million has been proposed to address any concern over the adequacy of the fund.

The provision for family members of deceased SARS patients has remained unchanged.

The proposal will be discussed in the Legislative Council on October 29. The Finance Committee will then be approached on November 7 for funding approval for the fund's establishment.