A foundation created by Chinese pop diva Faye Wong and her film star husband Li Yapeng was launched in Beijing Tuesday to help children born with cleft palates.

Nian Ran Angel Foundation, named for Li's daughter, will help children under 14 years old. The foundation was launched after Wong and Li's five-month-old daughter Li Nian recovered from plastic surgery for her cleft palate.

The couple donated one million yuan (US$ 125,000) to start the foundation in collaboration with the Red Cross Society of China (RCSC). Donations to the foundation will be encouraged.

According to the RCSC, guardians of children that meet the foundation's criteria can apply to the foundation for assistance. Further information for potential applicants is available on the RCSC website.

Harelips, which are often associated with cleft palates, are a common congenital malformation. China has 2.4 million children born with cleft palates, government statistics show.

According to the RSCS, the applicants can download an application form from the above-mentioned websites and submit it to the Red Cross Society at or above the county's level. Then the local Red Cross Society will send the forms of candidates to the RCSC.

Later, the appointed hospitals by the foundation will write plastic surgery plans for the qualified candidates after a thorough check-up.

Finally, the foundation will select the children and decide the amount of financial aid given to each child.

The final selected children's name will be publicized on the RCSC website and the selected children will undergo the surgery at the hospitals appointed by the foundation.

Harelips, which are often associated with cleft palates, are a common congenital malformation. According to government statistics, China has 2.4 million children born with cleft palates.

(Xinhua News Agency November 21, 2006)