Applications for grants to undertake projects that will raise public awareness of sustainable development and promote sustainable practices in Hong Kong are being invited.

Chair of the Sustainable Development Council's Education & Publicity Sub-committee Christine Fang said today about $10 million is earmarked annually for grants from the Sustainable Development Fund. This will be the fourth round of applications since the fund was established in 2003.

Ms Fang said the sub-committee has suggested a number of areas receive particular consideration in the current round of applications.

"Priority would normally be given to promotional projects with a strong element of community involvement, and to projects that create a measurable impact on sustainable development in Hong Kong and a legacy for sustainable practices within the community," she said.

Projects that promote capacity-building and collaboration across various sectors to raise public awareness of, and capacity to practise, sustainable development principles will also receive priority consideration.

Sustainability reporting

Although the sub-committee has already approved a sustainability reporting project during the previous round of applications, it considered that such a practice should continue to be encouraged in the current round. Priority will be given to variations on encouraging sustainability reporting and measurement.

"Sustainable Development Fund projects can focus on different subject areas, such as energy, transport and tourism. We also welcome projects that are relevant to the two priority areas taken forward by the Council for Sustainable Development in the second sustainable development strategy process, namely Population Policy and Better Air Quality," Ms Fang said.

Details of the suggested priority areas and application forms are available on the sustainable development website. Applicants are encouraged to submit applications online. The deadline is 5pm on August 31. Enquiries can be made to the Sustainable Development Unit on 3150 8192 or by email to sdf@sdu.gov.hk.

In the first three rounds of application from 2003 to 2005, 14 projects were approved at a cost of $12.55 million. Of these, seven focused on community involvement and four on capacity building. The remainder concerned publication of a magazine, production of a musical drama and sustainability reporting. Details of all approved projects and their progress are on the website.