The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Kwai Chung Hospital (KCH) made the following announcement regarding a suspected sexual offence involving two patients today (September 14):

     At around 9.30 pm last night (September 13), a nurse in a ward of KCH was notified of an incident involving suspected indecent behavior between two adult male patients that occurred in the toilet of the ward. The nurse immediately followed up and investigated the incident as well as notified the police. The police subsequently arrested one of the patients in the ward.

     The hospital is highly concerned about the incident and has immediately arranged the concerned patients to be separated into different wards. The hospital will fully co-operate with the police investigation.

     The Health Bureau (HHB) launched the new "e+ Life" health challenge platform under eHealth and rolled out officially today (September 14) its very first health challenge, the "e+ Go to Park" game, to encourage members of the public to develop healthy habits by actively participating in health challenges. Over 100 primary and secondary school students as well as parents tried out the "e+ Go to Park" game and took part in a series of healthy activities at the launch ceremony for an energising weekend.
 
     The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, said, "Over 6 million citizens have registered with eHealth to date since its launch in 2016, accounting for nearly 80 per cent of the Hong Kong population. The eHealth mobile application (eHealth app) has also recorded more than 3.4 million downloads. We put forward the 'eHealth+' five-year plan last year to capitalise on the solid foundation of eHealth and make further enhancements through new functions with a view to better embracing the development of healthcare technologies in the future and enabling citizens to safeguard their well-being in a more effective manner for them to take up the primary responsibility for their own health. The Government is making every effort to develop the eHealth app into a single portal for citizens to manage health records of their own and their family members, gain access to health information, facilitate personal health monitoring and establish a healthier lifestyle, serving as a healthcare piggy bank for all.
 
     "To encourage citizens to form healthy habits, the new 'e+ Life' health challenge platform is specially launched under 'eHealth+' to allow eHealth users to join various health challenges, log their daily exercises and accumulate health coins by interfacing with tracking applications. The first health challenge, i.e. the 'e+ Go to Park' rolled out today primarily targets students. According to the Student Health Service Annual Health Report for 2022-23 school year by the Department of Health (DH), around 90 per cent of students reported an insufficient level of physical activity, which in turn correlates with issues such as obesity, social and mental health among students. We hope to leverage the various game modes of 'e+ Go to Park', including individual, family, and school challenges, to encourage students to head outdoors with their parents and friends, and enjoy the fun of playing games and exercising together, thereby improving their physical and mental health."
 
     The "e+ Go to Park" is introduced by the HHB in collaboration with the Education Bureau, the DH and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD). Participants can access the "e+ Go to Park" game for free by logging in the "e+ Life" platform through the eHealth app. The game is set in the backstory of rescuing "Sports Babies" from outer space. Players are tasked to search for and capture different virtual characters and collectibles in real life at over 200 designated parks managed by the LCSD to replenish enough "sports energy" for fuelling the trip back home for the "Sports Babies". Players need to capture energy targets around different corners of the parks in person, allowing them to work out while gaming. In addition, a number of special edition virtual characters and collectibles featuring the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China will be introduced in October for players to capture. Citizens may visit the thematic website of the eHealth app (app.ehealth.gov.hk/elife-overview) for more details of the "e+ Life" platform and the "e+ Go to Park" game.
 
     At the launch ceremony, about 10 students debuted the dance performance for the theme song entitled "e+ Move it Up" which was specially composed for the "e+ Life" platform. Professor Lo also had a taste of the "e+ Go to Park" game and participated in activities at several sports booths together with students. The event featured a variety of entertaining programmes and health activities, including sports booths of stretching exercise, dodgebee and rope skipping, the "e+ Support Station" for weight and blood pressure measurements as well as blood sugar testing, Chinese Medicine health consultation services, and storytelling sessions with interactive picture books for children's health education.
 
     More health challenges will be introduced on the "e+ Life" platform. Among them, the DH will roll out a walking challenge under the "10 000 Steps a Day" campaign this November to raise public awareness of the health benefits of walking, encourage people to engage in more physical activities and support their family members or friends to integrate the habit of walking 10 000 steps a day into daily life.
 
     The Under Secretary for Health, Dr Libby Lee; Deputy Secretary for Education Mr Edward To; the Deputy Director of Health, Dr Teresa Li; Assistant Director (Leisure Services) of the LCSD Mr Henry Wong; and Acting Assistant Director of Home Affairs, Mr Gavin Yeung, also attended the launch ceremony.
 
     "The Chief Executive's 2023 Policy Address" put forward the "eHealth+" five-year plan to transform eHealth into a comprehensive healthcare information infrastructure that integrates multiple functions of data sharing, service support and care journey management through the launch of nine new functions (including "e+ Life"). At present, parents can easily deposit, access and manage their children's health records in the eHealth App, including all records of vaccination received at Maternal and Child Health Centres since 2007 and at primary schools across the city since 2013 under the DH's Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme, as well as allergies or adverse drug reactions records. Moreover, the "Child Growth Record" function of the eHealth app has adopted the updated Hong Kong 2020 Growth References to help parents monitor the growth of their children.
 
     Citizens may register as an eHealth user online through the "iAM Smart" mobile application, or by visiting any of the 18 designated post offices, over 70 eHealth registration centres located in different districts and eHealth mobile registration stations; as well as the various District Health Centres to register as members and activate eHealth accounts. A default consent arrangement was also made on the system to register participating citizens of government-subsidised vaccination schemes with eHealth as a streamlined registration procedure. Citizens may visit the eHealth website for more details on eHealth registration.

     The Deputy Commissioner of Police (National Security), Mr Kan Kai-yan, inspected the passing-out parade for 29 probationary inspectors and 164 recruit police constables at the Hong Kong Police College today (September 14) and witnessed the moment they became new members of the Force.
      
     Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Mr Kan Kai-yan thanked the family and friends who attended the ceremony for their support and trust in the graduates, enabling them to be a powerful force resolutely safeguarding their “home” – Hong Kong. He was proud to see the graduates formally shoulder the mission of “safeguarding their family and country and upholding the rule of law”.
      
     He encouraged the graduates that no matter what new challenges and difficulties they face in the future, they should not forget their original intention of joining the Force in fighting against evils and be a good policeman. He also used a popular movie quote – remember one word called “heart”, to encourage the graduates to do everything well with their hearts.
      
     Mr Kan said that whether it is dealing with a request from citizens, solving problems in relation to people's livelihood and community security, or safeguarding national security, everyone of them should do their utmost with their “hearts”, and the public would feel the enthusiasm and professionalism that a good policeman should have.
      
     He continued that with the change of the times and circumstances, “evils” do not only refer to fraudsters who cheat in real life and the cyber world, but also traitors who endanger national security. In addition to the ever changing modus operandi of crimes, there are also challenges in dealing with unprecedented national security risks.
      
     “As the head of the National Security Department of the Force, I especially want to refer to the national security risks we are facing. At present, our society seems to be stable on the surface, but in fact the national security risk is secretly surging everywhere; there are still people who use “soft confrontation” to infiltrate the society and endanger national security; external forces continue to keep an eye on us, intending to curb the development of the country by interfering in Hong Kong's affairs and wantonly smearing the city and our country; and local terrorism is also going underground. In recent years, we have detected many cases involving firearms and bombs, which is enough proof of such risks. It has not only posed a threat to national security, but also seriously endangered the personal safety of every Hong Kong citizen.”
      
     He believes that “safeguarding national security” is the responsibility of every officer, and it is also one of the strategic directions of the Force and one of the operational priorities of the Commissioner of Police.
      
     “The Safeguarding National Security Ordinance which came to effect this year clearly stipulates that we must take national security as the most important consideration in making any decision and carrying out our duties. Therefore, in the face of the national security risks and as the forefront of protecting our people’s lives and property, all of us should have national security awareness to identify national security risk at an early stage for proper prevention and swift response, working together to fulfil the mission of safeguarding national security.”
      
     Finally, he once again encouraged the graduates, who are about to take up their respective posts that no matter what environment and difficulties they face, they should always keep in mind and adhere to their original intention of joining the Force in fighting against evils, carrying out duties in their own post with “heart”, contributing to the Force and society, maintaining the stability and prosperity of the country and Hong Kong, and enabling every citizen to live well and thrive.

        

     â€‹The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, visited Wong Tai Sin District today (September 14) to tour a community pharmacy, a Chinese medicine services centre and the District Health Centre (DHC) to learn more about the primary healthcare facilities and services in the district. He also interacted with local residents and service users to listen to their views on the upcoming Policy Address.
      
     The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau; the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak; and the Director of Home Affairs, Mrs Alice Cheung, joined relevant parts of the visit.
      
     Accompanied by the District Officer (Wong Tai Sin), Mr Thomas Wu, Mr Lee and the officials first visited the PHARM+ Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Community Pharmacy to learn more about its service areas and daily operation, including its drug consultation and health advice services provided for people who require regular medication.
      
     Mr Lee then visited the Sik Sik Yuen Chinese Medicine Services Centre and interacted with its patients to understand the centre's Chinese medicine and integrated Chinese-Western medicine services.
      
     After that, Mr Lee visited the Wong Tai Sin District Health Centre to observe the range of services, including health risk factors assessment, chronic disease screening and community rehabilitation services, provided by the centre. He also interacted with healthcare staff and participants of the Chronic Disease Co-Care Pilot Scheme to learn more about the services and effectiveness of the promgamme.
      
     Mr Lee said that the current term Government has been progressively revamping the healthcare system to actualise the objective of the Primary Healthcare Blueprint of shifting the focus of the healthcare system from its present treatment-oriented, hospital-based structure to a prevention-focused, community-based one. He said that the setting up of DHCs is an important step in strengthening the primary healthcare system. With more than 290 000 members joining the DHCs and DHC Expresses across the city, it reflects that the DHCs have been gradually building a primary healthcare service network which begins to take shape in the community.
      
     Afterwards, Mr Lee and the officials went to a local Chinese restaurant to participate in an event organised by district groups. They celebrated the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and Mid-Autumn Festival with the elderly and members of the District Services and Community Care Team in Wong Tai Sin. Mr Lee also interacted with local residents to listen to their views on Government's policies.
      
     "I have felt citizens' passion for Hong Kong and have gained a better understanding of their needs and thoughts through our exchanges. My team and I will continue to visit different districts to meet with representatives from various sectors and listen to their opinions, with a view to building a vibrant economy for a caring community," Mr Lee said.
      
     The public consultation exercise for the 2024 Policy Address was launched in mid-July. Mr Lee appealed to members of the public to actively give their views on issues of their interests to the Government.

                              

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Chief Executive of the Hospital Authority (HA), Dr Tony Ko, led a delegation to visit Beijing for four consecutive days (September 10 to 13) to deepen exchanges and collaboration among healthcare institutions of the two places, and further promote registration pathways for non-locally trained doctors to exchange and work in Hong Kong in order to expand the healthcare talent pool in Hong Kong.

     Dr Ko said, "The delegation visited the Beijing Municipal Health Commission and exchanged in-depth views on various medical and healthcare issues, and explored the deepening of exchanges and collaboration among public hospitals of Beijing and Hong Kong, including enhancing professional exchanges of healthcare talents between the two places, so that healthcare talents can leverage on respective strengths on a complementary principle to further uplift the quality of healthcare sectors in the two places."

     The delegation also visited the Tsinghua University and the Capital Medical University respectively. Both institutions offer medical qualifications courses recognised by the Special Registration Committee of Hong Kong. The delegation introduced to the two institutions the arrangements for non-locally trained doctors to come to Hong Kong for exchange and work through limited or special registration, as well as the "Global Healthcare Talent Scheme" and various exchange programmes carried out by HA in different cities in the Mainland. The delegation also received briefings on the curriculum of medical education by representatives from the two institutions. The delegation also visited two affiliated hospitals of Capital Medical University, namely Beijing Youan Hospital and Beijing Friendship Hospital, to learn the latest developments of healthcare institutions and technology in the Mainland.

     Dr Ko added that the public healthcare services in Hong Kong and Beijing can learn from each other, and are looking forward to further strengthening collaboration in hospital management and services development in the future, and hopes to enhance talent training and exchanges for enhancing the quality of healthcare services of the healthcare institutes in both places for the benefits of patients.

     The delegation also participated in the 2024 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS). Dr Ko delivered a speech on "Public Hospital Management in Hong Kong: Towards a New Era of Smart Care" at the Beijing International Conference for Public Health Cooperation held under the CIFTIS, in which he shared HA's experience in the development of public hospital services through smart hospital initiatives with the medical and health experts from different countries and places. The delegation also visited the Thematic Exhibition on Health Services in the CIFTIS to learn about the high quality innovative development of public hospitals in the Mainland.