National Ecology Day 2026 Launching Ceremony cum Symposium Held in Hong Kong to Promote Ecological Conservation

National Ecology Day 2026 Launching Ceremony cum Symposium held today

The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) held the National Ecology Day 2026 Launching Ceremony cum Symposium today (August 15) at the Hong Kong Science Museum. It invited representatives from the Mainland and HKSAR Governments, and non-governmental organisations, scholars and experts to exchange ideas on ecological civilisation concepts and conservation work, and set the stage for a series of activities related to environmental protection and ecological conservation.

The launching ceremony was officiated by the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing; the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan; the Deputy Director-General of the Social Development Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Mr Ye Shuiqiu; and member of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress and the President of the Legislative Council (LegCo), Dr Starry Lee.

In his opening speech, Mr Cheuk said that August 15 marks both the National Ecology Day and the day on which the Ecological and Environmental Code of the People's Republic of China formally comes into effect. The HKSAR Government attaches great importance to the national initiative on ecological civilisation and is committed to putting into practice the concept of "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets". In 2025, Hong Kong's Mirs Bay was selected by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment as an "Outstanding Example of Beautiful Bays" with an excellent overall score, demonstrating that the efforts of the HKSAR Government in ecological and environmental protection have been recognised by the country, and signifying an important achievement of the HKSAR Government in jointly building the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area into a world-class beautiful bay area. The HKSAR is, for the first time, formulating a five-year plan that aligns with the National 15th Five-Year Plan's policy direction to cut carbon emissions, reduce pollution, pursue green development, and boost growth so as to improve ecological environment quality, and steadily pursuing green transition, building a liveable city, and realising a beautiful Hong Kong.

Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Lee said that a good ecological environment is an important resource and advantage underpinning long-term development, and the Ecological and Environmental Code of the People's Republic of China provides a systematic legal framework for the country's ecological and environmental governance. Ecological protection concerns the daily lives of every member of the public. The Legislative Council will continue to support the HKSAR Government in governing in accordance with the law, rally the strength of all sectors of society to ensure that environmental policies are implemented with greater precision and deliver more effective results.

Other attending guests included the Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Miss Diane Wong; the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation, Mr Mickey Lai; the Acting Director of Environmental Protection, Dr Vanessa Au; the Acting Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services, Mr Vincent Chow; member of the Executive Council and Chairman of the Council for Carbon Neutrality and Sustainable Development, Dr Lam Ching-choi; Member of the Executive Council and Legislative Council Mr Kenneth Lau; and the Chairman of the Environment and Conservation Fund Committee, Dr Eric Cheng. The Chairman of the LegCo Panel on Environmental Affairs, Ms Judy Chan, and LegCo Members including Mr Yiu Pak-leung, Mr Lothair Lam, and Ms Julia Lau also attended.

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Co-operation in Coral Conservation and Marine Conservation Public Education with the Ocean Development Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality at the launching ceremony to further enhance co-operation in coral conservation and marine conservation public education. This includes building a regular coral conservation collaboration and exchange mechanism, collaborating on research on coral restoration technology and applications, advancing the application of advanced technology in coral conservation, and joint promotion of marine conservation public education.

After the launching ceremony, the Executive Director of the Hong Kong Culture and Sustainability Centre, Professor Louis Yu, hosted the symposium. Speakers of the symposium included Professor of the Academy of Arts & Design and Adjunct Researcher of the China Institute for Rural Studies of Tsinghua University, Professor Li Chaoyang; Interim Director of the Jockey Club Design Institute for Social Innovation of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University Ms Sam Lam; Associate Professor Kingsley Ng from the Hong Kong Baptist University Academy of Visual Arts; Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning) and Professor of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management of the Chinese University of Hong Kong Business School, Professor Lisa Wan; and the Head of the Countryside Conservation Office (CCO) of the Environment and Ecology Bureau, Professor Stephen Tang. They shared and exchanged practical experiences in integrating arts and culture into countryside conservation and revitalisation.

To encourage members of the public to support and participate in National Ecology Day, the HKSAR Government announced earlier that the Government and non-governmental organisations would launch a range of special activities and offers from now until late September. In addition, the Government will hold a National Ecology Day thematic exhibition at the East Kowloon Cultural Centre from September 1 to 6, as well as a sharing session and performance on September 5.

Details of various activities and offers for National Ecology Day are available on the website of the CCO (cco.gov.hk/en/event-calendar/ned) and the Hong Kong Biodiversity Information Hub of the AFCD (bih.gov.hk/en/education-programmes/programmes/index.html). Members of the public may also obtain information on the exhibition, performances and the sharing session through the National Ecology Day thematic webpage at cco.gov.hk/en/news/ned-2026-exhibition.

The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region held the National Ecology Day 2026 Launching Ceremony cum Symposium today (August 15). Photo shows the moderator of the symposium, the Executive Director of the Hong Kong Culture and Sustainability Centre, Professor Louis Yu (first left), together with speakers of the symposium, (from second left) Associate Professor of the Hong Kong Baptist University Academy of Visual Arts, Professor Kingsley Ng; Interim Director of the Jockey Club Design Institute for Social Innovation of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University Ms Sam Lam; Professor of the Academy of Arts & Design and Adjunct Researcher of the China Institute for Rural Studies of Tsinghua University, Professor Li Chaoyang; Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning) and Professor of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management of the Chinese University of Hong Kong Business School, Professor Lisa Wan; and the Head of the Countryside Conservation Office of the Environment and Ecology Bureau, Professor Stephen Tang. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region held the National Ecology Day 2026 Launching Ceremony cum Symposium today (August 15). Photo shows Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Miss Diane Wong (front row, fourth left); the Chairman of the Legislative Council (LegCo) Panel on Environmental Affairs, Ms Judy Chan (front row, fourth right); LegCo Member Mr Yiu Pak-leung (front row, third left); LegCo Member Mr Lothair Lam (front row, third right); LegCo Member Ms Julia Lau (front row, second left); the Chairman of the Country and Marine Parks Board, Professor Kenneth Leung (front row, second right); the Chairman of the Advisory Council on the Environment, Professor John Chai (front row, first left); and the Chairman of the Energy Advisory Committee, Professor Simon Wong (front row, first right), with representatives from organisations supporting the public engagement activities of National Ecology Day. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region held the National Ecology Day 2026 Launching Ceremony cum Symposium today (August 15). Photo shows member of the Executive Council and Chairman of the Council for Carbon Neutrality and Sustainable Development, Dr Lam Ching-choi (front row, third left); Member of the Executive Council and Legislative Council Mr Kenneth Lau (front row, third right); the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation, Mr Mickey Lai (front row, second left); the Acting Director of Environmental Protection, Dr Vanessa Au (front row, second right); the Acting Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services, Mr Vincent Chow (front row, first left); and the Head of Countryside Conservation Office of the Environment and Ecology Bureau, Professor Stephen Tang (front row, first right), with representatives from organisations supporting the public engagement activities of National Ecology Day. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region held the National Ecology Day 2026 Launching Ceremony cum Symposium today (August 15). Photo shows the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan (front row, centre); member of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress and President of the Legislative Council, Dr Starry Lee (front row, right); and the Chairman of the Environment and Conservation Fund Committee, Dr Eric Cheng (front row, left), with representatives from organisations supporting the public engagement activities of National Ecology Day. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region held the National Ecology Day 2026 Launching Ceremony cum Symposium today (August 15). Witnessed by the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation, Mr Mickey Lai (first right), and the Deputy Director of the Ocean Development Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality, Mr Cheng Zhangmin (first left), the Assistant Director (Fisheries and Marine Conservation) of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Dr Jim Chu (second right), and the Director of the Shenzhen Ocean Development Promotion Center, Mr Chen Hao (second left), signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Co-operation in Coral Conservation and Marine Conservation Public Education. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region held the National Ecology Day 2026 Launching Ceremony cum Symposium today (August 15). Photo shows the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing (front row, seventh left); the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan (front row, sixth left) the Deputy Director-General of the Social Development Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Ye Shuiqiu (front row, fifth right); and member of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress and President of the Legislative Council, Dr Starry Lee (front row, sixth right), with guests at the event. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, attended the National Ecology Day 2026 Launching Ceremony cum Symposium today (August 15). Photo shows (from left) the Deputy Director-General of the Social Development Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Ye Shuiqiu; Mr Cheuk; member of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress and the Chairman of the Legislative Council, Dr Starry Lee, and the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, at the ceremony. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Member of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress and President of the Legislative Council, Dr Starry Lee, speaks at the National Ecology Day 2026 Launching Ceremony cum Symposium today (August 15). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, speaks at the National Ecology Day 2026 Launching Ceremony cum Symposium today (August 15). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

In support of World Diabetes Day, public is advised to have regular screening and maintain balanced diet to reduce risks promptly

The International Diabetes Federation and the World Health Organization have designated November 14 each year as World Diabetes Day. Under this year's theme "Early Action on Diabetes", members of the public are urged to take collective action to control diabetes early.

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (November 14) reminded the public that diabetes is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in Hong Kong. According to the Population Health Survey 2020-22, 8.5 per cent of non-institutionalised persons aged 15 to 84 had diabetes or raised blood glucose. Among them, the vast majority had Type 2 diabetes (95 per cent). Risk factors for developing Type 2 diabetes include being overweight and obesity, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, a family history of diabetes, or a history of gestational diabetes. Therefore, the best ways to reduce the risk of developing diabetes and associated complications are adopting a healthy lifestyle and undergoing regular screening, which is in line with the Government's "early prevention, early detection and early treatment" initiative.

"Diabetes is a common chronic condition characterised by high levels of glucose in the blood. Patients usually do not have obvious symptoms in the early stages. As the disease progresses, diabetes may present with symptoms or complications, including excessive thirst, frequent urination, increased appetite, weight loss, lethargy, poor wound healing and infections. Poor control may result in serious complications, such as heart disease, stroke, kidney failure and blindness. People with diabetes are two to four times more likely to develop cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases than those without diabetes. Globally, the number of people with diabetes continues to rise, making it one of the fastest-growing health challenges. The CHP's survey found that many people are unaware they have diabetes, thereby missing the optimal time for controlling the disease and receiving treatment," said the Controller of the CHP, Dr Edwin Tsui.

District Health Centres and District Health Centre Expresses (collectively referred to as DHCs), as the hubs for co-ordinating and supporting primary healthcare services, provide screening and management services for chronic diseases (including diabetes mellitus), family doctor pairing, health promotion, health risk assessment and community rehabilitation. The Commissioner for Primary Healthcare, Dr Pang Fei-chau, said, "Hong Kong residents aged 45 or above with no known medical history of diabetes mellitus or hypertension can enrol in the DHC's Primary Healthcare Co-care Network and receive comprehensive cardiovascular disease risk factor screening and management (including high blood pressure, high blood sugar and high cholesterol) in the private healthcare sector on a co-payment basis, through pairing with a family doctor, to delay or prevent diabetes and its complications. A preliminary analysis by a local university research team indicated an overall improvement in Chronic Disease Co-care Pilot Scheme participants' health conditions. After 12 months in the programme, the average glycated haemoglobin level of patients with diabetes mellitus decreased from 7.8 per cent to 6.7 per cent."

Diabetes is mainly classified into Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 diabetes is caused by the dysfunction of insulin-producing cells, which may be related to hereditary factors, autoimmune disorders or some environmental factors. Type 2 diabetes is caused by the body's resistance to insulin. Apart from hereditary factors, the main factors are related to an unhealthy lifestyle (including poor lifestyle habits, unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity or obesity). To prevent Type 2 diabetes and its complications, the key is to maintain a healthy body weight and a balanced diet; control sugar and saturated fat intake; refrain from alcohol consumption and smoking; and stay physically active. Adults should engage in at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity, or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity (or an equivalent combination), per week. A study also found that for every 1 unit (kilogram per square metre) increase in body mass index among adults, the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes rises by 23 per cent.

In March 2026, the Government launched the Action Plan on Weight Management (Action Plan) to raise public awareness regarding personal weight management through multipronged collaboration and participation across the community. Furthermore, the 10 000 Steps a Day Walking Challenge has been regularised. Gamifying physical activity, the scheme encourages citizens to make walking an enjoyable habit. Combined with a balanced diet, this approach aims to reduce the risk of diabetes and other chronic diseases and maintain good health. The Action Plan is steered by an interdepartmental Weight Management Working Group. Co-ordinating policies in healthcare, education, recreation and culture, urban planning, and other areas, the Action Plan will implement five key directions and 15 objectives systematically over three years. With a strategy that spans the entire life cycle, the Action Plan aims to strengthen the role of primary healthcare as the "gatekeeper", promoting collaboration between Chinese and Western medicine and integrating health data through the eHealth platform to comprehensively support citizens in managing and safeguarding their health.

To promote healthy diet, the DH has launched a number of measures, including the StartSmart@school.hk Campaign for kindergartens and child care centres, the EatSmart@school.hk Campaign for schools, and the EatSmart Restaurant Star+ Campaign, which encourages restaurants to offer healthier dishes.

For details, please visit the Action Plan on Weight Management, 10 000 Steps a Day Walking Challenge and Change4Health web pages of the DH, as well as the Primary Healthcare Commission's website.

Source: AI-found images