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The Sustainable Development (SD) Unit has received 44 proposals from a wide cross-section of organizations and individual applicants for new sustainable development projects to be supported by the Sustainable Development Fund.
A spokesman for the unit said today (September 24) that the response was satisfactory. He said: "We have received innovative and constructive proposals for raising public awareness of sustainable development, as well as ideas for practical and community-based projects." The application period began in late June and ended yesterday.
He added that of the 44 applications, 11 were from schools or academic institutions, 7 from Non-Government Organisations or community groups and 16 from individuals. Others had come from organizations such as business chambers or district-based organizations.
Following an initial assessment and screening by the SD Unit, the Council for SD and its Education and Publicity Sub-committee will review the applications and advise on which of the proposed projects should receive funding. The full assessment process is expected to take 10 to 14 weeks.
The SD Fund was established in 2003 with a sum of $100 million. To date, 10 projects have received grants from the fund totaling nearly $11 million. These projects include education and awareness programmes; sustainable management of community resources; and the production of a regular magazine on issues related to sustainable development.
Details on these successful projects can be found on SD Unit website at www.susdev.gov.hk.
Ends/Saturday, September 24, 2005
Issued at HKT 16:04
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