Applications for the Equal Opportunities Race and Sexual Orientation Funding Schemes and the Children's Rights Education Funding Scheme for 2006-07 are open. Application deadline is April 21.

The Home Affairs Bureau today said the schemes provide financial support to organisations wanting to hold activities to promote equal opportunities.

Quality equality: Applications for the Equal Opportunities Race and Sexual Orientation Funding Schemes and the Children's Rights Education Funding Scheme for 2006-07 are open.

Registered organisations or their sub-groups can apply. Projects must be non-profit-making and conducted in Hong Kong. They must be completed on or before January 31, 2007.

The bureau said the funding schemes regarding race and sexual orientation were launched in 1998 and run annually. More than $11 million has so far been allocated to non-governmental organisations to fund activities dedicated to the promotion of equal opportunities in these two areas.

This year, the funding areas have been expanded by launching the children's rights scheme to raise public awareness and understanding of youngster's rights.

Application forms are available from the bureau and all Home Affairs Department Public Enquiry Service Centres. They can also be downloaded here.

For enquiries on the race scheme call 2835 1579, the sexual orientation scheme call 2835 1565, and children's rights scheme call 2835 2127.