Lam regrets filibuster over quake donation

Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor was disappointment yesterday after lawmakers failed to vote on a proposal to donate HK$100 million to the Sichuan earthquake relief effort amid concerns the funds may be misused.

"I hope this will not affect the ties between Hong Kong people and mainland compatriots and lawmakers do not make a mountain out of a molehill," she said after a two-hour Finance Committee ended before all who wanted to had spoken.

This came as charities raising funds for the disaster said donations were running well behind those for the 2008 Sichuan quake.

The charities said it may be owing to concerns the money would be siphoned off by corrupt officials or because of the smaller scale of the Yaan quake, which killed more than 190 people while the Wenchuan disaster killed more than 80,000.

Lam said the government would discuss with committee chairman Tommy Cheung Yu-yan when another meeting could be held.

The pro-establishment camp, which dominates the 69-member Finance Committee, has already expressed support for the donation. But the main pro-democracy parties have said they will oppose any donation directly to mainland governments.