Hong Kong - Hong Kong's government Friday asked legislators to approve setting up a controversial 1.28-billion-US-dollar reconstruction fund for China's earthquake-struck Sichuan province.

Legislators are being asked to approve an initial 256-million-US- dollar gift to set up a fund which would rise to 1.28 billion dollars with further government and public donations.

In a briefing paper, government officials said the money from the fund would be given out on a case-by-case basis for rebuilding following the devastating earthquake in May.

The proposals have stirred controversy among legislators, some of whom said the fund was too large and was more of a political than a humanitarian gesture.

Hong Kong's administration, which is is appointed by Beijing, sent a delegation of legislators to Sichuan recently to observe the extent of the earthquake damage and discuss long-term reconstruction.

Some legislators expressed concern that money given by the Hong Kong government and people might be siphoned off by corrupt officials rather than used to help rebuilding efforts.

However, in Friday's briefing paper, officials insisted each project would be carefully evaluated before money from the fund was given out.

Pro-democracy legislator Emily Lau complained that while the government was keen to show patriotic solidarity with China, it had dismissed proposals to look after Hong Kong's own underprivileged.

Hong Kong was a British colony for 156 years before reverting to Chinese sovereignty under a "one country, two systems" arrangement in 1997. (dpa)