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The following is issued on behalf of the Council for the AIDS Trust Fund:

The AIDS Trust Fund is inviting applications for grants for research or promotion projects which will contribute to greater public understanding on AIDS or to the well-being of HIV/AIDS patients and their families.

There are four rounds of applications this year, the deadlines for which are 10 March, 28 May, 27 August and 26 November respectively. Applicants are reminded to adhere to the appropriate deadlines as it will take two to three months for processing.

Application forms are available at the Secretariat of the Council for the AIDS Trust Fund or the Red Ribbon Centre, 2/F Wang Tau Hom Jockey Club Clinic, 200 Junction Road East, Kowloon. Completed applications should be sent to -

Secretary, Council for the AIDS Trust Fund

c/o Health and Welfare Bureau

Government Secretariat

The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

19-20/F Murray Building

Garden Road

Hong Kong

For enquiries, please contact the Council Secretariat at 2973 8136 or 2973 8117, or by fax to 2840 0467 or 2869 4376.

The AIDS Trust Fund was set up in April 1993 to provide assistance to HIV-infected haemophiliacs and generally to strengthen medical and support services and public education on AIDS.

Since its establishment, it has approved $136 million for about 300 projects. Approved projects included the establishment of the Red Ribbon Centre which serves as an AIDS education, research and resource centre; a hospice service for the HIV/AIDS patients; the development of Chinese resources centre on AIDS; sex workers' peer education project; pilot project of universal screening of HIV infection in pregnant women; educational programmes conducted by person living with HIV/AIDS; various educational programmes targetting at youth, women and men who have sex with men, etc.; as well as grant of ex-gratia payments to provide assistance to HIV-infected haemophiliacs.

End/Tuesday, March 2, 1999

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