ENG-2009 — Page 224

164 Health

healthcare services can also enhance and consolidate Hong Kong's position as a prime medical centre in the region.

Four suitable sites have been reserved in Wong Chuk Hang, Tseung Kwan O, Tai Po and Lantau for private hospital development. An expression of interest exercise was carried out at the end of 2009 to assess market interest in developing private hospitals at these sites. Land disposal arrangements and special requirements for the four sites will be formulated having regard to the market response and feedback. Efforts will continue to be taken to enhance training and development of local healthcare professionals and to attract overseas medical talent to Hong Kong for the exchange of expertise, research and training to provide manpower support for the healthcare sector and to raise service standards further.

Health Promotion

Healthy Lifestyle

The department's Central Health Education Unit is responsible for formulating the direction of public health education.

In 2009, the unit carried out a number of promotional activities, including an Exercise Prescription Project that encourages physical activities; campaigns on preventing infectious diseases such as the promotion of proper use of antibiotics, and publication of leaflets on health in various languages for the territory's cosmopolitan community.

Nearly 80 per cent of Hong Kong's primary and secondary schools participate in a healthy eating campaign, '[email protected]', launched in 2006. To date, the campaign's website has recorded almost 61 million hits. The Department of Health. also runs a campaign named '[email protected]' in which some 590 restaurants took part during the year.

The Adolescent Health Programme is another example of the department's determination to improve the psychosocial health of secondary school students. Some 318 secondary schools, 98 000 students and 3 700 parents and teachers enrolled in and received services under the programme during the 2008-09 school year.

In the financial year of 2008-09, the Department of Health spent $200 million on health promotion.

Oral Health Education

Educational and promotional activities were organised throughout the year by the department's Oral Health Education Unit to stress the importance of oral health. The activities were carried out under an outreach programme, known as the 'Oral Health Education Bus', designed for primary school pupils. Information on oral health is provided through the department's oral health education website, www.toothclub.gov.hk, and a 24-hour interactive telephone hotline.

In October 2009, a campaign was launched urging people to take proper care of their teeth with emphasis on healthy eating habit to prevent tooth decay.