World Vision, an international relief organization, donated four million HK dollars Tuesday in Beijing to China's 'Tomorrow Plan,' a project aiming to provide surgical and rehabilitation services to disabled Chinese orphans.

It is the largest donation to the Plan since it was launched by the Ministry of Civil Affairs (MCA) in May.

According to the contract signed Tuesday in Beijing between the MCA and World Vision, the MCA will use 3.5 million HK dollars from the donation to provide medical services to disabled Chinese orphans and spend the rest on raising social awareness of disabled orphans, project management and assessment. In addition, World Vision will also participate in other projects related to Tomorrow Plan.

Vice-Minister of Civil Affairs Li Liguo highly praised World Vision for its contribution to helping Chinese orphans and called for efforts from all walks of life to care for the disabled children at Tuesday's signing ceremony.

Under the MCA scheme, 'Tomorrow Plan' will provide surgery and rehabilitation to 30,000 disabled orphans under 18 in social welfare institutions across China. The project is funded by the China Welfare Lottery, funds allocated by local governments and private donations.

According to a survey conducted by the MCA at the end of 2003, Chinese welfare institutions are now accommodating 54,522 children. Nearly 50 percent of them are disabled. Officials estimate that about 14,000 of the disabled orphans can be cured through proper medical care.

World Vision was founded in 1950 and now operates in some 100 countries worldwide. In 2003, the Christian relief and development organization gathered donations and relief items valued at some US$1.25 billion and helped more than 100 million people.

The organization entered China in 1982 and now manages more than 80 relief and anti-poverty projects in more than 14 provinces, cities and autonomous regions across China. World Vision devoted over 540 million yuan (approximately US$65.3 million ) to China from 1998 to 2003.

Dr. Chan Sze Tang, Chief Executive Officer of World Vision China, said Tuesday in Beijing that his organization looks forward to more cooperation with Chinese civil affairs departments in serving AIDS victims, establishing relief standards and helping needy Children and urban migrant workers.

(Xinhua News Agency September 29, 2004)