Hong Kong's Legislative Council approved a one-off commitment of 150 million HK dollars (US$19.2 million) Friday to establish the Trust Fund for SARS, a government press release said on Friday.

The fund will provide ex-gratia assistance to the families of SARS victims, eligible recovered patients and suspected SARS patients.

According to the release, surviving spouse will be granted 200,000 HK dollars (US$25,641), dependent child (ren) 500,000 HK dollars (US$64,103) for each of those under 18 and 300,000 HK dollars (US$38,462) for each of those between 18 and 21 who are studying full-time.

Moreover, dependent parent(s) will each get 300,000 HK dollars, and those not falling into the above category, but meeting certain criteria 100,000 HK dollars (US$12,821) for each family.

In addition, special ex-gratia payments serving as tide-over assistance will also be made to eligible recovered patients suffering longer-term effects attributable to SARS (including the effects of medication received for SARS), which might result in some degree of physical or psychological dysfunction.

Similar assistance will also be provided to eligible suspected SARS patients treated with steroids who suffer from longer-term effects which might result in some degree of physical dysfunction.

SARS killed about 300 people from nearly 1,800 infections earlier this year in Hong Kong.

(Xinhua News Agency  November 8, 2003)