The letter published in your column on the 17th of May regarding the distribution of the Business Community Relief Fund for Victims of SARS by the Liberal Party calls for some clarification and rectification.

The Fund was initially inspired by the needs of the victims of SARS in Hong Kong, and the amount required was estimated according to the needs assessed by the Social Welfare Department. However when it became clear that the Fund raised ($28.5 million) way surpassed the need of Hong Kong victims, I then explored the need of victims on the Mainland. After all, we are now all citizens of China. As the need for victims in Hong Kong and on the Mainland is urgent, we have to decide on the viability and accountability of the disbursement of grants quickly. As I mentioned to the media, all those who donated to the start up portion of the Fund ($27.5 million) were alerted to this development. But as donors from the community could not be easily identified, it was impossible for me to consult each and every one of them individually before the decision was taken to include victims of Mainland as recipients. However as we have made it clear that the Liberal Party is the organizer of the Fund, it would have been quite easy for any donor to contact us for enquiries. We are of course entirely open to the request of donors to withdraw their contribution on the basis that victims of Mainland have been added to the list of beneficiaries. So far we have received only one such request, and the donation was refunded immediately. I believe the existence of this option already ensures accountability and choice to all donors.

Since we announced the inclusion of the Mainland on the 14th of May, we have recorded a further sum of $1.2 million from members of the public who have made donations into the HSBC, the Bank of China or 7-11 . This indicates that the public accepts our treatment of the Fund.

Finally, I wish to point out some unjust assertions in the letter titled Diverted Donation. All major donors have been either approached by me or a member of the Liberal Party, or have come forth with donations voluntarily, so there is no question of our instructing staff members to solicit funds. For every one of those who have appealed for and responded with donations, it is a charitable act that transcends politics. It very much reflects the compassion of the Hong Kong society. Contrary to the writer's insinuation, and with the help of the Social Welfare Department of Hong Kong and the China Red Cross, every cent collected will be accounted for. As organizer of the Fund, it is the Liberal Party's duty to do so.

Yours faithfully,

James P.C. Tien
Chairman
Liberal Party

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