DH urges public to adopt healthy lifestyles to achieve physical fitness and protect heart in support of World Heart Day
On World Heart Day today (September 29), the Department of Health (DH) urged the public to adopt healthy lifestyles, maintain a balanced diet, refrain from smoking and drinking, and actively participate in the Primary Healthcare Co-care Network (Co-care Network) and the Life Course Preventive Care Plan, both of which were launched by the Government to holistically safeguard health and prevent cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), the world's "No. 1 killer".
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), CVDs (including heart disease and stroke) are the leading cause of death globally, claiming 17.9 million lives each year. In Hong Kong, CVDs are also among the leading causes of death. In 2025, 10119 registered deaths (provisional figures) were attributed to CVDs, accounting for around one-fifth (19.6 per cent) of all deaths. The majority of these deaths (65.2 per cent) were associated with heart disease.
"Although 'an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure' is a cliché, it is absolutely the primary strategy for preventing non-communicable diseases, including CVDs. Eighty per cent of CVDs are preventable through healthy eating, being physically active, and refraining from smoking and drinking, among other measures. Therefore, the Government has consistently educated the public through various channels, and has fostered a supportive environment through multidisciplinary and community-wide collaborations to encourage citizens to actively engage in physical activities. In March 2026, the DH announced the Action Plan on Weight Management. In addition to raising public awareness of weight management and a healthy diet, the action plan also encourages everyone to use 10 000 steps a day as a target to cultivate the habit of having regular physical activity. Those who are yet to join may take part in the 10 000 Steps a Day Walking Challenge via the e+Life platform of the eHealth mobile app, and explore thematic walking routes with family and friends, thereby incorporating physical activity into daily life," said the Controller of the Centre for Health Protection of the DH, Dr Edwin Tsui.
According to the DH's Health Behaviour Survey 2023, 14.8 per cent of adults performed an insufficient level of physical activities, and did not meet the WHO's recommended levels of aerobic physical activity (i.e. to engage in at least 150 to 300 minutes of physical activities of moderate intensity every week/at least 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity/an equivalent combination of moderate- and vigorous-intensity activity). Moreover, 33.9 per cent of adults sit or recline for over eight hours every day, excluding the time spent sleeping. Research reveals that sedentary behaviour or prolonged sitting increases the risks associated with CVDs. Taking a break from prolonged sitting, even by simple ways such as a short walk or standing up for a while, squatting or standing on one's tiptoes, can help reduce relevant health risks.
In addition, reducing salt intake can effectively lower the risk of developing raised blood pressure and CVDs. According to the DH's Population Health Survey 2020-22, 83.9 per cent of people in Hong Kong aged 18 to 84 had an average of 8.4 grams of salt intake every day, above the WHO-recommended limit of less than 5g (equivalent to about one teaspoon) per day. Meanwhile, the prevalence of raised blood pressure, raised blood glucose and raised total blood cholesterol were 30 per cent, 8.6 per cent and 52.7 per cent respectively. As well, over half of Hong Kong's adult population is overweight or obese. Dr Tsui urged the public to adopt a balanced diet with at least five daily servings of fruit and vegetables, reduce fat and sugar intake, avoid smoking, and refrain from alcohol consumption.
The Government announced the launch of the Co-care Network in March 2026. Guided by the principle of "whole-person health", the Co-care Network introduces evidence-based, life-course-spanning preventive measures alongside a structured framework for regular screening and management of high-risk diseases. To achieve "early prevention, early detection and early treatment", the Chronic Disease Co-Care Scheme (CDCC Scheme) under the Co-care Network will continue to subsidise Hong Kong residents aged 45 or above with no known medical history of diabetes mellitus or hypertension. By pairing participants with a family doctor of their choice, the CDCC Scheme provides comprehensive CVD risk factor screening and management -including the "three highs" (i.e. high blood pressure, high blood sugar and high cholesterol) - in the private healthcare sector on a co-payment basis. The CDCC Scheme has demonstrated positive outcomes in both health and cost-effectiveness. Preliminary analysis by a local university research team indicates an overall improvement in participants' health conditions. Notably, after 12 months in the programme, the average systolic blood pressure among hypertensive patients decreased from 150 mmHg to 135 mmHg; the average glycated haemoglobin level of patients with diabetes mellitus decreased from 7.8 per cent to 6.7 per cent; and the average Body Mass Index of patients with prediabetes also decreased by 0.52 kg/m². Members of the public can visit the dedicated website for further details.
Furthermore, the Primary Healthcare Commission promotes the Life Course Preventive Care Plan through District Health Centres/District Health Centre Expresses and family doctors. This initiative aims to enhance public awareness of disease prevention, foster healthy lifestyle habits, and assist citizens in formulating personalised health strategies for different life stages.
The theme of World Heart Day 2026 is "Don't Miss a Beat". To support this theme, the DH will continue to promote healthy living among the public and collaborate with community partners to foster healthy living environments. For more information, please visit the Change for Health website of the DH.
Source: AI-found images
SFST leads financial sector delegation to visit Northern Metropolis to promote integrated development of financial industry and real economy
The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, today (September 29) led a delegation of local financial sector representatives to visit the Northern Metropolis, receiving briefings from the Northern Metropolis Co-ordination Office and relevant park companies on the latest developments and construction progress in the area. The delegation comprised senior management from various sectors, including asset management, private equity, insurance, accounting, and fintech, as well as senior representatives from financial regulatory bodies.
Mr Hui and the delegation visited three core development areas in the Northern Metropolis, namely the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park (i.e. the Loop Hong Kong Park), the Kwu Tung North New Development Area (NDA), and the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen NDA, to gain an in-depth understanding of the industrial layout as well as potential investment and financing opportunities in each district.
Through on-site inspections of the three areas, the delegation gained a comprehensive understanding of the unique development advantages of "one river, two banks" and "one zone, two parks" in the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone, as well as its synergistic development with the adjacent San Tin Technopole, including support for the development of the Northern Metropolis University Town; the taking-shape infrastructure and housing development in the Kwu Tung North NDA; and the strategic positioning of the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen NDA as a hub for high-end professional services and logistics, particularly its geographical advantage in being adjacent to Qianhai.
During the visit, they explored the role of financial services in supporting technological innovation and project financing; the financing needs arising from the Kwu Tung Station, the Northern Link, housing development plans in the Kwu Tung North NDA, and various project developments; as well as the latest developments and immense growth potential of various sectors, including the Hung Shui Kiu Industrial Park, large-scale district development, and the University Town.
During the visit, Mr Hui said, "The Chief Executive explicitly stated in the newly announced Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan that 'finance is the foundation and the greatest strength of Hong Kong'. As the most important new growth engine for Hong Kong's future, the Northern Metropolis serves as the optimal setting to realise the 'dual integration' of 'Finance+' strategy with the real economy. Over the years, Hong Kong's financial sector is not just an observer in terms of the city's growth, but rather an active engine driving its strategic transformation. We organised this visit precisely to enable the financial industry to have the first-hand insights into the land, with a view to comprehensively promoting the integrated development of the financial sector and the real economy.
"The development of the Northern Metropolis must be closely combined with the deployment of financial resources. Leveraging market forces and social capital to provide diversified and sustainable financial support for the infrastructure, commercial projects, and industry parks in the Northern Metropolis is a key strategy for the Government to accelerate and enhance efficiency for the development. This is also the most vivid embodiment of our full-fledged efforts to drive Hong Kong's evolution from a 'financial city' into a 'finance-empowered city', using finance as a catalyst to boost development in technology, green transition, and livelihoods," he added.
As of July this year, the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council has approved over $180 billion in funding for public works projects related to the Northern Metropolis, demonstrating the Government's firm commitment to supporting infrastructure development in the area. In addition, the Government will inject $10 billion each into three park companies - the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park Limited, the Hung Shui Kiu Industry Park Company Limited, and the San Tin Technopole Company Limited - and has reserved $10 billion to support the development of the Hung Shui Kiu University Town campus area by way of loans, thereby engaging market forces to accelerate project development.
At the same time, the 2026 Policy Address stated that efforts will be stepped up to attract long-term capital investment into the Northern Metropolis and deepen the alignment of 'Finance + Northern Metropolis Development'. The Northern Metropolis Financial Advisory Taskforce, established by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the Hong Kong Association of Banks, which currently comprises 23 participating banks, will tailor financing solutions for enterprises setting up in the Northern Metropolis and provide targeted support for the Northern Metropolis development.
Mr Hui added, "The Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, together with the HKMA, are exploring ways, under the current regulatory capital framework for banks, to facilitate financing for government-related entities such as park companies and funded universities developing in the Northern Metropolis, thereby unlocking greater financing flexibility to advance related projects in the area. Furthermore, following the enhancement to the risk-based capital regime for the insurance industry, preferential capital treatment will be provided for infrastructure investments, including those in the Northern Metropolis, starting from December 31 this year. We expect that with this new measure, more insurance capital will be injected to infrastructure projects under the Northern Metropolis development."
Delegation members considered that the visit was enlightening in deepening the industry's understanding of the positioning and commercial growth potential of the Northern Metropolis, laying a strategic foundation for the financial sector's subsequent participation in investment projects across various domains in the area.
Source: AI-found images
