Delegation of Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town to visit Germany and Switzerland
The research task force set up by the Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town(WG) under the Committee on Development of the Northern Metropolis will pay visits to Europe. The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, will depart late tonight (May 17) for visit to Germany, while the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, will commence her visit to Switzerland on May 20. They will respectively conduct site visits to local higher education and innovation and technology (I&T) infrastructure, and exchange views with officials, experts and scholars on their successful experiences and development strategies to efficiently advance the construction of the Northern Metropolis University Town.
The delegation led by Mr Chan will visit Aachen, Stuttgart and Heilbronn to inspect local higher education campuses and university towns, and exchange views with officials, representatives from higher education institutions, experts and scholars on the operation and development of the campuses, the development of universities of applied sciences and their industry-education collaboration. The delegation will also visit an AI innovation park to learn about its efforts in promoting AI development and nurturing I&T talent. Representatives of the Alliance of Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS Alliance) will join parts of the trip.
Dr Choi will visit Bern, Basel and Zurich with representatives of the WG and the UAS Alliance to inspect various local universities, and exchange views with education officials on strengthening collaboration.
Mr Chan will conclude his visit to Germany and depart for Hong Kong on May 21, arriving on the morning of May 22. During his absence, the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, will be the Acting Chief Secretary for Administration. Dr Choi will conclude her visit to Switzerland and depart for Hong Kong on May 23, arriving on the morning of May 24. During her absence, the Under Secretary for Education, Dr Sze Chun-fai, will be the Acting Secretary for Education.
Source: AI-found images
DH urges public to adopt healthy lifestyle, measure blood pressure and undergo screening regularly in support of World Hypertension Day
In support of World Hypertension Day, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (May 17) reminded members of the public to pay closer attention to their blood pressure levels, measure their blood pressure regularly , adopt a healthy lifestyle, and participate in the Chronic Disease Co-Care Scheme (CDCC Scheme) implemented by the Primary Healthcare Commission (PHCC) to achieve "early prevention, early identification and early treatment" of hypertension through screening and personalised management, effectively reducing the risk of developing hypertension or serious health problems arising from hypertension.
The aim of World Hypertension Day is to increase worldwide awareness of high blood pressure and accurate blood pressure measurements. The theme this year is "Controlling Hypertension Together!". Hypertension is often known as a 'silent killer'. Since patients may not experience symptoms or severe discomfort, many people fail to detect it in a timely manner. According to the DH's Population Health Survey (PHS) 2020-22, 29.5 per cent of non-institutionalised persons aged 15 to 84 in Hong Kong had hypertension, with more than 40 per cent unaware of having hypertension until they underwent the PHS health examination arranged by the DH.
If left unchecked, uncontrolled, or not properly treated, hypertension can lead to serious health problems, such as stroke, heart attack, kidney failure, and even death. In 2024, there were 1 217 registered deaths in Hong Kong attributed to hypertensive heart disease, 45 deaths due to hypertensive renal disease, and 28 deaths due to hypertensive heart and renal disease. This situation cannot be overlooked. Members of the public are advised to measure their blood pressure regularly for early detection and treatment.
What is hypertension
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Adults are considered to have hypertension if their systolic blood pressure is persistently higher than or equal to 140 millimetres of mercury (mmHg) and/or their diastolic blood pressure is persistently higher than or equal to 90 mmHg. According to theHong Kong Reference Framework for Hypertension Care for Adults in Primary Care Settings issued by the PHCC, adults aged 18 or above should measure their blood pressure at least once every two years. Depending on their blood pressure levels, age, overall cardiovascular risk profile and doctor's recommendation, some individuals may require more frequent blood pressure monitoring.
How to prevent hypertension
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Adopting a healthy lifestyle is essential for preventing and controlling hypertension. Reducing salt intake is widely recognised as one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of hypertension and cardiovascular disease. According to the DH’s PHS 2020-22, as many as 83.9 per cent of persons aged 15 to 84 had daily salt intake above the World Health Organization-recommended daily limit of less than 5 grams of salt. Furthermore, the public are reminded to avoid drinking alcohol and smoking, and to stay away from secondhand smoke as far as possible.
Regarding physical activity, adults should engage in at least 150 to 300 minutes of physical activities of moderate intensity every week. Regular exercise can bring about numerous health benefits, including lowering blood pressure. The DH has regularised the walking challenge under the "10 000 Steps a Day" Campaign on the e+Life platform in the "eHealth" mobile app. The public is encouraged to explore different featured routes with family and friends, and incorporate physical activity into their daily lives.
The PHCC is actively promoting the Life Course Preventive Care Plan through District Health Centres/Expresses and family doctors, thereby enhancing public awareness of disease prevention, establishing a healthy lifestyle, and assisting citizens in developing a personalised preventive care plan across different life stages. Besides, the CDCC Scheme subsidises Hong Kong residents aged 45 and above with no known medical history of diabetes mellitus or hypertension to undergo comprehensive screening of cardiovascular disease risk factors, including the "three highs" (high blood pressure, high blood sugar and high cholesterol) and to receive personalised management on a co-payment basis in the private healthcare sector through pairing with a family doctor of their choice, thereby achieving the goal of "early prevention, early identification and early treatment". The Scheme has performed well in terms of health benefits and cost-effectiveness. The preliminary analysis conducted by a local university research team indicates overall improvements in participants' health conditions. After participating in the Scheme for 12 months, the average systolic blood pressure of hypertension patients decreased from 150 mmHg to 135 mmHg. For more details, please visit the dedicated websiteof the CDCC Scheme.
The DH will continue to strengthen public awareness campaigns to promote healthy lifestyles for the prevention and control of hypertension, and will collaborate with various stakeholders to foster a healthy living environment.
Source: AI-found images
