Press Releases
Members of SARS Trust Fund committees re-appointed
The Government announced today (October 28) the re-appointment of all incumbent
members of the committee and review committee of the Trust Fund for Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) for a term of two years with effect from November 8.
The five members re-appointed to the Committee on Trust Fund for SARS are Dr
David Fang (chairman), Ms Iris Chan Sui-ching, Ms Scarlett Pong Oi-lan, Ms
Deborah Wan Lai-yau and Mr Benedict Wong.
The three members re-appointed to the Review Committee on Trust Fund for SARS
are Mr Benjamin Yu (chairman), Ms Christine Fang Meng-sang and Professor Richard
Yue Yue-hong.
Speaking on the re-appointment, the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr
York Chow, thanked the hard work of both committees in the last two years and
considered that the re-appointment of all the incumbent members would provide
continuity to the work of the committees.
The Committee on Trust Fund for SARS was set up in 2003 to advise the
Administration on the operation of and applications for assistance under the
trust fund. The Review Committee was set up at the same time to consider
applications for review of the original decisions. Assistance under the trust
fund to recovered SARS patients and "suspected" SARS patients treated with
steroids would be subject to six-monthly renewals on the basis of their medical
and financial conditions.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau noted there had
been very few new applications in recent months.
The number of beneficiaries under the trust fund was reduced to 337, down from
629 when the trust fund was first established, indicating many of those who had
been affected by SARS had made a good recovery.
"Medical evidence to date shows that SARS related dysfunction would not start to
surface at such a late stage. Hence, the committees will in future focus on the
processing of renewal applications from the existing beneficiaries, instead of
new applications," the spokesman said.
"In the unlikely event there is medical evidence that a certain new applicant
does suffer from SARS-related dysfunction, we would still process his/her
application," the spokesman added.
Following are the membership lists of the two committees with effect from
November 8, 2005:
Committee on Trust Fund for SARS
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Chairperson:
Dr David Fang, SBS, JP
Non-official Members:
Ms Ms Iris Chan Sui Ching
Ms Scarlett Pong Oi Lan
Ms Deborah Wan Lai Yau, BBS, JP
Mr Benedict Wong Chung Mat, MH
Trustee
Director of Social Welfare
Review Committee on Trust Fund for SARS
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Chairperson:
Mr Benjamin Yu, SC, JP
Non-official Members:
Ms Christine Fang Meng-sang, JP
Professor Richard Yu Yue-hong
Ends/Friday, October 28, 2005
Issued at HKT 18:00
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