The Social Welfare Department (SWD) of the Hong Kong government said a fund initiated by Hong Kong's business community has so far raised 17 million HK dollars (some 2.2 million US dollars) to aid families of SARS victims, and applications for the fund opened Friday.

The SWD, which administers the fund said that the fund will be handed out to the families five days after the application, according to a local government radio news report.

Should both parents of a family die of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), a lump sum of 200,000 Hong Kong dollars (25,641 US dollars) of aid will be meted out to the family members Friday.

The fund is also available for application by SARS convalescents, who will be given a maximum of three months' living expenses of between 3,000 dollars (384.6 US dollars) to 8,000 dollars (1,025.6 US dollars) per month.

Director of Social Welfare, Carrie Lam, told reporters that the department would take a generous approach in handling all applications in a swift manner.

"There needs to be a simple interview and quick look at the documents concerned before meting out the fund. I hope this will satisfy the demand of the business community and the Legislative Councilors that the applications will be processed generously, and the money will reach the families swiftly," She said.

Meanwhile, 24 minors whose parent or parents has been killed by SARS will be aided by a separate fund set up by the civil servants in Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong government is still working on the means of handing out the fund to the needy families.

(Xinhua News Agency May 2, 2003)