HK-aided Centre Continues To Help Sichuan Victims

Sichuan government officials say they are continuing to aid victims of the 2008 earthquake through a centre that Hong Kong helped set up after the disaster.

The massive earthquake left more than 87,000 people dead or missing and thousands of homes destroyed.

The Sichuan-Hong Kong Rehabilitation Centre in Chengdu was built after the disaster with funds from Hong Kong as a part of the relief work to provide rehabilitation services and train health workers.

In the days after the earthquake, the Hong Kong government also fully subsidised the rehabilitation of over 300 victims who underwent amputations. Training and psychological rehabilitation of these victims is continuing to this day, the officials said.

Hong Kong society and the government sent millions of dollars to help the rehabilitation work in the province. There were some reports that questioned the handling of the funds sent, but the Sichuan officials denied money had gone missing.

They said all the work was done according to strict guidelines and the donors' wishes, and the government has been transparent.

The Sichuan government also said it is going to step up long-time cooperation with Hong Kong. It is going to have regular talks with the Hong Kong side, with Chief Executive Carrie Lam attending the first meeting in the province next month.