ENG-2005 — Page 216

178 Health

This year, the unit organised a variety of health promotion activities that involved all levels of the community. These included the Healthy Exercise for All campaign to promote physical activities; the 2 Plus 3 a Day campaign to promote the consumption of fruit and vegetables; and health education and promotion activities related to influenza, avian influenza and influenza pandemic preparedness. A number of health campaigns were also launched in response to the World Health Day, the World Breastfeeding Week, the World Diabetes Mellitus Day and the World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Day.

The unit recognises the importance of research and evaluation in health promotion. In 2005, it released a report, 'Tackling Obesity: Its Causes, the Plight and Preventive Actions'. The aim of this publication is to enhance the awareness of the problem of obesity among health promotion practitioners and the community. Evaluative studies on the feasibility and efficacy of a campaign that promotes stair climbing in local public housing estates and Leisure and Cultural Services Department venues were completed. 'Guidelines on Health Promotion Evaluation' were also published to help health promoters inside and outside the Department of Health plan, implement and evaluate health promotion programmes.

Oral Health Education Unit

Educational and promotional activities were organised throughout the year by the Oral Health Education Unit of the Department of Health to enhance the community's general level of oral health awareness. These activities include outreach programmes delivered through the Oral Health Education Bus, and programmes for kindergartens and pre-school centres which reach more than 130 000 pre-schoolers every year. Information on oral health is accessible to the public through the oral health education homepage (www.toothclub.gov.hk) and the 24-hour interactive oral health education telephone hotline. The annual Love Teeth Campaign was held in September with the theme, 'Care for the Perfect Team: Your Gums and Teeth'.

Smoking and Health

Legislative Changes

In a further step to protect the public from the hazards of secondhand smoke, the Government introduced the Smoking (Public Health) (Amendment) Bill 2005 into the Legislative Council in May to expand statutory no-smoking areas to all indoor workplaces and public places and strengthen the regulations on advertisements, promotions, packaging and labelling of tobacco products as well as strengthening law enforcement efforts. Under the proposed legislation, the majority of indoor workplaces and public places in Hong Kong will be smoke free by January 1, 2007.

Tobacco Control Office

The Tobacco Control Office was set up in 2001 under the Department of Health to coordinate the Government's tobacco control efforts and to promote a smoke-free culture in Hong Kong through intersectoral collaboration and community participation.