Draft guidelines released by the Ministry of Health on Monday recommended targeting HIV/AIDS information and services toward populations thought to be at most risk from infection, with the use of approaches including peer education.

It said sex workers, gay and bisexual men, long term migrant workers and injecting drug users, as well as those with other sexually transmitted infections and their partners, should be prioritized for education and testing initiatives.

Peer educators and professional health workers should both be involved providing information and free condoms in places target group members frequent, according to the guidelines.

Male and female prostitution, both of which are illegal in China, are nonetheless widespread.

A part-time masseur called Zhang from east Beijing's Chaoyang District was all for the new approach. "The test for HIV or STDs is totally OK with me."

Zhang, who said he had sex with his male clients for money only "occasionally," said he believed it to be extremely unlikely that he is HIV positive because he uses condoms.

(China Daily China.org.cn June 8, 2005)