The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) announced that application for the second batch of the 2000/2001 "Community Participation Funding Programme on Equal Opportunities" would start today (10 July 2000). The funding programme aims to encourage community organizations to carry out projects in promoting equal opportunities and eliminating discrimination on the grounds of sex, marital status, pregnancy, family status and disability.

The EOC has offered this funding programme since 1996/97 with very positive response from the community. A total of 193 organizations have been funded to date to carry out activities promoting public awareness on equal opportunity laws. The application deadline for the second batch of the 2000/2001 funding programme will be on 31 August 2000. The maximum funding limit of each project is $60,000.

Interested organizations can contact the EOC Office on telephone 2511 8211, or on fax 2511 8142 to obtain details of the programme and application forms, or visit our homepage at .

For media enquiries, please contact :

Shana WONG

Senior Equal Opportunities Officer

(Tel.) 2106 2218

(Fax) 2511 8142

Enquiry: Ms. Shana WONG     21062218