US$34.91 million disbursed for disaster relief
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSARG) released US$34.91 million from the Disaster Relief Fund to provide immediate relief to people in distress outside Hong Kong in the year ending March 31.
Grants were disbursed in response to appeals made by governments and international relief organizations.
For 2007-08, assistance was given through 22 projects operated by the following seven relief organizations: The Association of Chinese Evangelical Ministry Limited, Cedar Fund, Hong Kong Red Cross, Mercy Corps Limited, Oxfam Hong Kong, The Salvation Army and World Vision Hong Kong. The government also awarded grants totaling US$26.92 million to three provincial/municipal governments for relief projects for mainland China snowstorm victims.
Relief organizations receiving grants from the fund are required to submit evaluation reports and audited accounts to the HKSARG on the use of the grants after the completion of the relief projects.
The Disaster Relief Fund, administered by the Administration Wing under the Chief Secretary for Administration’s Office, provides an effective channel for the government to respond swiftly to international appeals for humanitarian aid for the relief of disasters that occur outside Hong Kong.
The fund is operated from capital of US$6.41 million (HK$50 million) provided by the HKSARG when the fund was established. The government tops off the fund at the beginning of each financial year and applies to the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council for additional funding as necessary during the financial year, depending on calls for relief and the size of the fund balance and commitments.
The Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee is responsible for advising the government on policy and practices regarding the disbursement of funds for disaster relief, as well as making recommendations on specific amounts and monitoring the use of grants.
Government enhances monitoring of HKTB
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government agrees that there is room for improvement in the corporate governance of the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), and the Tourism Commission is studying relevant recommendations released by the Legislative Council’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on April 30.
Before publication of the PAC’s report, the Tourism Commission and the HKTB respectively had implemented a number of improvement measures, and introduced and renewed due process and mechanisms to enhance the monitoring of the HKTB’s use of resources, in the light of the Report of the Director of Audit published in November last year. The Tourism Commission will continue to monitor the HKTB’s operations and progress in implementing these improvement measures for the effective use of public resources.
Young conductor wins prestigious competition
The Home Affairs Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government congratulated Hong Kong young conductor Perry So Pak-hin on winning the first place in Symphony Conducting in the Fifth International Prokofiev Competition in St. Petersburg, Russia, in April.
The International Prokofiev Competition is one of the two biggest international competitions in the field of classical music in the Russian Federation. The competition is organized by the Ministry of Culture and financed by the Russian government.
A selection committee led by world-renowned Maestro Yuri Falik admitted 47 young conductors from 134 submissions from 32 places to the competition, and chose So as the winner among competitors from around the world.
Mr. So joins the league of young conductors from Hong Kong — Yip Wing-sie and Jimmy Chiang Chi-bun — in winning an international contest.
Mr. So is the resident conductor of the Hong Kong Children's Symphony Orchestra. He also has worked with a number of overseas orchestras. At the age of 14, he was named Student Musician of the Year by Hong Kong newspaper South China Morning Post. He studied conducting under renowned pedagogue Gustav Meier at the Peabody Institute in Baltimore, at the same time serving as Maestro Meier's assistant at the Greater Bridgeport Symphony Orchestra. He is a graduate of Yale University with a degree in comparative literature.
PSC Chairman reappointed
On April 25, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government announced the re-appointment of Nicholas Ng Wing-fui as the chairman of the Public Service Commission for a term of three years, effective May 1. Mr. Ng was first appointed as chairman of the commission in May 2005.
The commission is an independent statutory body set up under the Public Service Commission Ordinance. Its fundamental role is to advise the administration on appointments, promotions and discipline in the civil service. It currently comprises a chairman and seven non-official members, all of whom are appointed by the Chief Executive.
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