Hong Kong government Thursday approved HK$4 million (US$510,000) from the Disaster Relief Fund for emergency relief to earthquake victims in Yunnan Province in southern China.

A government spokesman said that to ensure the money to be used for the designated purposes, the two charities, Salvation Army and World Vision Hong Kong need to submit evaluation reports and audited accounts on the use of the grants after the relief projects had been completed.

Besides, the spokesman said, the government is also actively contacting relief organizations to organize relief programs to help the flood victims since the torrential rains in the southern parts of the Chinese Mainland have been causing widespread floods and severe loss of life and property.

Established in 1993, Hong Kong Disaster Relief Fund aims at emergency disaster relief in places outside Hong Kong.

(Xinhua News Agency June 15, 2007)