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Ms Tsui said the most effective weapon in the fight against AIDS is education and prevention. So one of the objectives of this year's Campaign is to continue publicising the importance of practising safe sex; avoiding sexual promiscuity; and protecting oneself and one's family from contracting the disease.
Through the launching of this Campaign, the Committee aims to enhance general awareness towards the effect of AIDS; to dispel misconceptions about HIV carriers and HIV patients; to encourage the public to accept these people who deserve our sympathy and support, not isolation.
To fulfil these objectives, the Committee has adopted a new strategy and a wide range of activities to reinforce these messages to all sectors of the community.
The package includes the production of a new TV Announcement of Public Interest (API) featuring an HIV patient, who identifies himself as JJ. JJ relates his personal experience about AIDS, his relationship with his family and his friends, and gives advice on ways to prevent contracting AIDS.
Ms Tsui praised JJ for his courage and openness in offering to come forward to deliver the message that AIDS can happen to everybody and that we can avoid it by taking precautions.
The approach of this TV API is the first of its kind in the AIDS education programme in Hong Kong. JJ presents the human face of an AIDS sufferer with great courage and dignity.
The Committee has also designed a new campaign logo combining the shape of a heart and a ribbon to symbolise care and acceptance towards HIV patients.
A host of different media and means of public education would also be used to disseminate the message of "Show Your Concern and Think About AIDS" to the public in a wide spectrum of activities.
For example, an MTR ticket advertisement carrying the message of concern about HIV patients will be launched in early July. The Committee will also take part in a travel exhibition to promote ways of prevention against AIDS to potential travellers.
Give-away items bearing the message of practising safe sex and basic knowledge about AIDS will be produced for distribution at various public education functions.