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What's New

Update on the Re-engineered Funding Model of the AIDS Trust Fund

The Government consistently prioritises the prevention and control of HIV infections. Since its establishment, the AIDS Trust Fund (ATF) has funded approximately 240 medical and support service projects, 520 publicity and public education programs, and has issued more than 600 ex-gratia payments.

With advancements in medical treatment globally, Hong Kong's HIV prevention and control efforts over the past forty years have proven highly effective. HIV infection has transformed from a fatal disease into a manageable chronic condition. According to the latest data from the Department of Health (DH), the number of newly reported HIV infections in Hong Kong has declined for nine consecutive years, and the local HIV infection rate remains at 0.1%, significantly lower than the global average. This reflects the effectiveness of Hong Kong's HIV prevention and control strategies. Looking ahead, the Government will continue to expand HIV testing and enhance treatment and care, while strengthening collaboration with various sectors of society to deepen public understanding of HIV infection and work towards eliminating related misconceptions.

In the future, the Government will transition from funding efforts focused solely on a single disease through the fund and will collaborate with a diverse range of community stakeholders, including non-governmental organisations, to enhance HIV prevention and control initiatives. Additionally, the Government will integrate responses to HIV infection within a comprehensive healthcare system, ensuring that testing is widely accessible, eliminating the stigma associated with HIV infection, and enhancing societal acceptance and support for those living with HIV.

In response to the Government's new direction for HIV infection prevention and control, the Council for the ATF (the Council) reviewed the role of the ATF and endorsed necessary adjustments to maintain effective countermeasures during the Council meeting in March 2025. The DH has informed relevant organisations about the above changes, which will affect future financial support for related communities, as follows:

  1. The ATF will continue to provide EGP support to haemophiliacs who may have been infected with the HIV virus through transfusions of contaminated blood or blood products in Hong Kong prior to August 1985, as well as to their dependents. The EGP Sub-Committee will consider applications and make recommendations to the Council. The application procedure and guidelines for the EGP from individuals will not be affected by this new re-modelling.
  2. From January 2025 onwards, funding for MSS, as well as PPE projects, will no longer accept new applications. The Government will implement public education and prevention efforts, as well as provide MSS for individuals infected with HIV, through a more diverse collaborative model. The DH is consulting relevant stakeholders to gather opinions and feedback.
  3. For MSS research projects, researchers may consider submitting relevant research proposals to the Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF), thereby consolidating existing resources. For details, please refer to the HMRF website.

In addition to handling EGP applications, the ATF will continue to monitor ongoing funded projects. The MSS and PPE Sub-Committee will review the progress reports submitted by grantees and make recommendations to the Council. Existing funded projects will continue to comply with all terms and conditions outlined in the application guidelines and will not be affected by this new re-modelling.

We hope that these adjustments will further enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of HIV prevention and control efforts in Hong Kong, bringing significant benefits to society.

For any inquiries regarding the ATF re-modelling, please contact the Secretariat, Council for the AIDS Trust Fund.


Secretariat
Council for the AIDS Trust Fund
June 2025