AIDS group pleased with flag day turnout

THE Hongkong AIDS Foundation is reserving judgement on yesterday's red ribbon flag day pending a final tally of donations next week.

But the foundation's administrative officer, Ms Josephine Wai Chi-fei, said: ''We had more than 1,000 volunteers and considering the experience in January of the first charity to hold a flag day during the week, we are rather pleased with the results.'' The Hongkong Council of Early Childhood Education and Services recruited 250 volunteers for its flag day, about 1,500 fewer than last year.

Ms Wai denied any connection between the flag day and recent revelations that the foundation had lost more than $1 million through foreign currency speculation.

The foundation hopes to raise $400,000.