XN000022-1997-04-09 — Page 51

34.

Grants provided by cemeteries board

Following is a question by the Hon Emily Lau Wai-hing and a written reply by the acting Secretary for Home Affairs, Mrs Stella Hung, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

It is learnt that the Board of Management of the Chinese Permanent Cemeteries under the chairmanship of the Secretary for Home Affairs has recently granted a sum of $400,000 to three groups in the gay and lesbian community. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a)

(b)

(c)

of the criteria adopted for selecting the three groups to receive the grants;

of the purpose for making a grant to the three groups; and

whether consideration will be given to providing public funds to the three groups so that they can step up their publicity efforts in eradicating discrimination against the gay and lesbian community?

Reply:

Mr President,

The Board of Management of the Chinese Permanent Cemeteries annually invite applications from welfare, youth, charitable and non-profit making organisations for grants to carry out projects for the benefit of the people of Hong Kong. In December 1996, the Board approved applications for three gay and lesbian organisations and granted to them a total of $375,000.

The replies to the question are as follows:-

(a)

in approving the applications from the three organisations, the Board took into account the objectives of the projects, the target group and number of beneficiaries, the community needs and the track records of the organisations;