A project co-sponsored by the Ministry of Civil Affairs and Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing's foundation has provided free operations for more than 4,000 children who suffered from cleft lip and palate deformities, the ministry said on Thursday.

The project was launched in April with a fund of 100 million yuan (US$15 million) for low-income children.

Twenty university-affiliated and provincial-level hospitals across the country were chosen to undertake cases under the project.

(Xinhua News Agency December 5, 2008)