HYAB Launches 18-District Health Community Project with Care Teams and Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine of University of Hong Kong

HYAB launches 18-District Health Community Project with Care Teams and Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine of University of Hong Kong

The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB), the District Services & Community Care Teams (Care Teams), and the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed) held the kick-off ceremony of the "Shape Your Healthy Life: 18 District Health Community Project" and the first district outreach health promotion event at the Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall today (April 7). The project aims to strengthen community level primary health support, as well as enable citizens to gain practical health knowledge.

The kick-off ceremony was officiated by the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak; the Permanent Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Mr Patrick Li; the Director of Home Affairs, Ms Priscilla To; the Executive Vice-President (Administration and Finance) of the University of Hong Kong, Mrs Cherry Tse; and the Dean of the HKUMed, Professor Lau Chak-sing.

The HYAB and Care Teams partnered with the HKUMed for the first time to launch a territory-wide health project in 18 districts, providing community services to citizens. In her speech, Miss Mak stated that the HYAB has always been committed to promoting community participation and believing that for health awareness to be transformed into action, it is necessary to deliver information and services to the citizens and express care to those in need. This collaboration with the HKUMed precisely combines the community network of the Care Teams with professional medical knowledge, taking community health services a step further and jointly promoting the health awareness in the community.

Miss Mak expressed her gratitude to the doctors from the HKUMed, members of the Care Teams, as well as the students of the HKUMed and the volunteers of the "Youth Link" for contributing to support community health. She hoped that this project will not only raise citizens' awareness of physical and mental health, but also gather community power to shape a healthy life together. The project will mobilise Care Teams of the 18 districts and members of the "Youth Link" to participate, fully embodying the "We Care We Serve" spirit of serving the community and expressing care for those in need.

The year-long "18-District Health Community Project", spanning all districts of Hong Kong, provides free health screenings, public seminars, community sports programmes, and health consultations for the elderly and families, aiming to promote preventive health and enhance community well-being. In the coming months, various activities tailored to the needs of different communities will be gradually launched, aiming to further raising citizens' health awareness.

After the kick-off ceremony, the first district health promotion event began, with over 250 citizens participating in health talks and free health screening services held in the community hall.

The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau, the District Services & Community Care Teams (Care Teams), and the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong held the kick-off ceremony of the "Shape Your Healthy Life: 18 District Health Community Project" and the first district outreach health promotion event at the Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall today (April 7). Photo shows a member of the Care Teams accompanying a participant for an eye examination. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau, the District Services & Community Care Teams, and the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed) held the kick-off ceremony of the "Shape Your Healthy Life: 18 District Health Community Project" and the first district outreach health promotion event at the Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall today (April 7). Photo shows (front row, from ninth left) the Director of Home Affairs, Ms Priscilla To; the Dean of the HKUMed, Professor Lau Chak-sing; the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak; the Executive Vice-President (Administration and Finance) of the University of Hong Kong, Mrs Cherry Tse; the Permanent Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Mr Patrick Li, and other guests with the participants. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau, the District Services & Community Care Teams (Care Teams), and the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong held the kick-off ceremony of the "Shape Your Healthy Life: 18 District Health Community Project" and the first district outreach health promotion event at the Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall today (April 7). Photo shows a member of the Care Teams accompanying a participant for an eye examination. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau, the District Services & Community Care Teams, and the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed) held the kick-off ceremony of the "Shape Your Healthy Life: 18 District Health Community Project" and the first district outreach health promotion event at the Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall today (April 7). Photo shows the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak (second row, second right), and the Dean ofthe HKUMed, Professor Lau Chak-sing (first right), with the volunteers of the "Youth Link". Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau, the District Services & Community Care Teams, and the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed) held the kick-off ceremony of the "Shape Your Healthy Life: 18 District Health Community Project" and the first district outreach health promotion event at the Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall today (April 7). Photo shows the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak (fourth left), and the Dean ofthe HKUMed, Professor Lau Chak-sing (first right), interacting with the volunteers of the "Youth Link". Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau, the District Services & Community Care Teams, and the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed) held the kick-off ceremony of the "Shape Your Healthy Life: 18 District Health Community Project" and the first district outreach health promotion event at the Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall today (April 7). Photo shows the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak (fourth right); the Permanent Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Mr Patrick Li (third left); the Director of Home Affairs, Ms Priscilla To (second right); the Executive Vice-President (Administration and Finance) of the University of Hong Kong, Mrs Cherry Tse (fourth left); the Dean of the HKUMed, Professor Lau Chak-sing (third right), and other guests officiating at the kick-off ceremony. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau, the District Services & Community Care Teams, and the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong held the kick-off ceremony of the "Shape Your Healthy Life: 18 District Health Community Project" and the first district outreach health promotion event at the Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall today (April 7). Photo shows the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, speaking at the kick-off ceremony. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Statement by ExCo Non-official Members

The following is issued on behalf of the Executive Council Secretariat:

Non-official Members of the Executive Council (ExCo Non-official Members) today (October 29) issued the following statement on the Government's follow-up work in relation to the fire at Wang Fuk Court:

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government today released the report of the Independent Committee in relation to the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. The Chief Executive and Principal Officials also held a press conference to give an account of relevant matters to the public. ExCo Non-official Members expressed full support for the Government in facing up to the problems, shouldering responsibility, and pursuing comprehensive reforms.

The Convenor of ExCo Non-official Members, Mrs Regina Ip, said, "The Chief Executive and Principal Officials have clearly explained to the public the Government's follow-up work, and, on behalf of the HKSAR Government, apologised to the residents of Wang Fuk Court and the community, demonstrating sincerity and political commitment. The Chief Executive also called on his team to continue to give their utmost in their respective positions in pressing ahead with various reforms and the extensive work ahead, while drawing lessons from the incident and better exercising leadership to step up the implementation of the result-oriented governing approach. I support this position."

"The Government's plans to implement comprehensive reform on the basis of the Independent Committee's report are comprehensive and pragmatic, addressing the crux of the issues. I concur with the seven major directions of systemic reform put forward by the Government. These include combatting bid-rigging in building maintenance and renovation projects, establishing a cross-departmental task force to combat crimes related to bid-rigging in such projects, establishing a Building Maintenance Support and Services Council, reforming the operation and regulatory system for building maintenance and renovation, reforming the structure of the Buildings Department, establishing a centralised data system and reforming the complaint mechanism, and establishing a steering committee chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration to follow up on the Independent Committee's recommendations."

As regards accountability, the Government has demonstrated its determination to pursue responsibility comprehensively and enforce accountability at various levels. On criminal liability, law enforcement authorities have successively instituted prosecutions against the companies and individuals involved in the incident. The Government has also initiated the Administrative Responsibility Two-tier Investigation Mechanism under the Heads of Department Accountability System, and is strictly following up on the administrative responsibility of the civil servants concerned. As for political accountability, the Chief Executive, having considered a wide range of factors, decided that the Secretary for Housing should take political accountability, and has accepted the Secretary's resignation.

The fire at Wang Fuk Court has exposed a number of long-standing inadequacies at different systemic levels, and the issues involved are complex and intertwined. Properly addressing these issues requires firm resolve as well as precise and decisive decision-making. ExCo Non-official Members will give their full support to the Government in taking forward comprehensive reforms and will continue to fully support its governance. ExCo Non-official Members firmly believe that, as long as society works together with dedication to turn grief into the strength to move forward, learns from the experience, and thoroughly implements systemic reforms, similar incidents can certainly be prevented, making Hong Kong a safer and better home.