HK to demand quake donation back if misused

(ECNS) -- A Hong Kong official said on Wednesday that if the local government in Ya'an, a city in Sichuan province hit by an earthquake, couldn't guarantee that disaster relief donations are all being used to help the affected people, Hong Kong would demand the donations be returned.

The remark was made Wednesday by Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, chief secretary for administration of the Hong Kong SAR government.

The Hong Kong SAR government donated 100 million Hong Kong dollars ($12 million) to Ya'an when the region was hit by a 7-magnitude earthquake in April.

The SAR government is contracting with the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Chengdu to understand how the money was spent, she said.

"The provincial government in Chengdu is also providing an assessment report on the allocation of the donation," said Lam, who added that there was no deadline set for the handling of report.

If the donations are being misused, the SAR government of Hong Kong will demand a return of the money donated to Ya'an, she added.

The government's decision comes after Hong Kong citizens' fears that corrupt officials will siphon off the donations.