Enhancing Support for Mothers in Hong Kong’s Healthcare Sector

Promoting breastfeeding to let children have a head start in life

​To promote breastfeeding and garner support from the healthcare sector, the Department of Health (DH), in collaboration with the Hospital Authority, the Hong Kong Private Hospitals Association, the Hong Kong Committee for United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative Hong Kong Association, today (November 23) organised the Breastfeeding Symposium 2024, which brought together local and overseas experts from Sweden, Singapore and Australia to share with representatives of the public and private healthcare sectors, healthcare professionals and other stakeholders the various issues related to breastfeeding, including professional support and the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative jointly promoted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UNICEF.

International literature and research showed breastmilk is the ideal food for infants. Breastmilk is safe, clean and contains antibodies which can help prevent many common childhood illnesses. Breastfed children perform better in intelligence tests, are less likely to be overweight or obese, and are less prone to have diabetes later in life.

Officiating at the symposium, the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam, said, “The Government has all along been promoting, protecting and supporting breastfeeding through a multi-pronged approach. The promotion of breastfeeding policy relies on the co-operation of different stakeholders in the community, and the support of healthcare professionals and medical institutions is particularly important.”

The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative is a global initiative launched by the WHO and the UNICEF, aiming to bring every baby the best start in life by creating a supportive atmosphere for breastfeeding. The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative includes a Baby-Friendly Health Facility assessment and accreditation programme to assess and recognise medical organisations which have successfully promoted, supported and safeguarded breastfeeding.

Dr Lam said, “The first few hours and days after birth are critical for establishing lactation and success of breastfeeding. All eight public hospitals with obstetrics departments in Hong Kong have been accredited as Baby Friendly Hospitals (BFHs). Two private hospitals providing delivery services have also started the BFH accreditation process, with one of them already accredited. In 2023, about 40 per cent of local babies were born in private hospitals. The Government calls upon more private hospitals to initiate the BFH accreditation process. To further strengthen and consolidate the baby-friendly measures in local maternity hospitals, the Government has set up a dedicated working group under the Committee on Promotion of Breastfeeding, in a bid to make breastfeeding the mainstream of infant and young child feeding in Hong Kong. Besides, to comprehensively enhance the professional support provided by health care facilities to breastfeeding families, the DH has expedited the accreditation process for Baby-Friendly Maternal and Child Health Centres (MCHCs). Currently, there are eight Baby-Friendly MCHCs, while the remaining 20 MCHCs are undergoing the accreditation process.

In addition, professional counselling services can ensure that mothers and their families receive adequate breastfeeding support, along with the information and advice, to build the confidence they need to nourish their babies optimally. To this end, the DH organised workshops two days prior to the symposium to enhance the capacity of healthcare professionals in both the public and private sectors in this area.

The Government will continue to take forward a series of breastfeeding promotion initiatives, including:

The Government will continue to work closely with different sectors of the society to strengthen the professional support for breastfeeding mothers in the healthcare sector and step up publicity on breastfeeding in the community through various channels, with a view to fostering a proactive culture of support for breastfeeding in the community and creating a friendly environment conducive to breastfeeding.

The Breastfeeding Symposium 2024 provided a golden opportunity for healthcare professionals to share and exchange views on areas related to the enhancement of professional support for breastfeeding and to exchange experiences, data and views on the enhancement of professional support for breastfeeding mothers.

Promoting breastfeeding to let children have a head start in life Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Promoting breastfeeding to let children have a head start in life Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Speech by CS at International Ombudsman Summit 2024 (with photos/video)

Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, at the International Ombudsman Summit 2024 today (December 3):

Director-General Cai (Director-General of the Department of International Cooperation of the National Commission of Supervision of the People’s Republic of China, Mr Cai Wei), Deputy Commissioner Fang (Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Mr Fang Jianming), President Benalilou (First Vice President of the International Ombudsman Institute, Mr Mohamed Benalilou), President Qureshi (President of the Asian Ombudsman Association, Mr Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi), Mr Chan (Ombudsman of Hong Kong, Mr Jack Chan), Consuls-General, ladies and gentlemen,

​Good morning. I am delighted to welcome you to Hong Kong and the International Ombudsman Summit, which brings together some 140 ombudsmen and other senior players from ombudsman offices around the world.

You are here, in Hong Kong, because you are committed to the principles of fairness, accountability and transparency. Because you are eager to hear from high-profile speakers and your international colleagues about the latest developments and best practices in this critical area of public administration.

You are here, too, l am pleased to add, to help us celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Hong Kong Office of The Ombudsman.

Hong Kong is proud to host this global gathering – to welcome you and the invaluable experience you bring to this Summit. We have long acknowledged the importance of the Office of The Ombudsman and its essential role in Hong Kong’s administration, our economy and our community.

The “one country, two systems” principle is the foundation of Hong Kong’s governance and approach to the world. “One country, two systems” creates singular opportunities with our country, China, and enables us to do business and build connections and people-to-people ties with the world at large.

Hong Kong has much to offer the world, East and West. Our judiciary is independent, we practise the rule of law, believe in efficient government and a simple and low tax system. We are blessed with modern infrastructure, a world-class financial and professional services sector, and, yes, an internationally respected Office of The Ombudsman.

The Ombudsman serves as a bridge between the people of Hong Kong and the Government. It demands that we learn from history and that we anticipate the challenges ahead.

Those challenges have expanded, hand in hand – or should I say screen in hand – with the rapid advances of technology, the complexities of global interdependence, and the ever-evolving expectations of our citizens, who look to today’s ombudsmen as custodians of the past, guardians of the present and architects of the future.

It is a demanding remit, but I am pleased to say that the Office of The Ombudsman in Hong Kong is committed to realising that responsibility. More than half of the Office’s 120 employees are investigators, let me add.

And, as Chief Secretary for Administration, it is my responsibility to submit responses to the Ombudsman’s recommendations – on behalf of the Government – to our Legislative Council.

Last year, the Office handled some 4 400 complaint cases. Through 95 full investigations and 10 completed direct investigation operations, the Office made 186 recommendations to various government bureaux and departments.

I welcome them, each and every one of them. They were made to improve the quality and the standards of public administration in Hong Kong. And to ensure the public that we are committed to accountability through independent, objective and impartial investigations.

We are also very much open to celebrations here in Hong Kong. As mentioned, this year is the 35th anniversary of the Office of The Ombudsman in Hong Kong. Since its establishment, the Office has been steadfast in driving a fair, efficient and accountable public administration, identifying areas that the Administration can improve in with sound recommendations.

I am pleased to congratulate the Office of The Ombudsman for 35 years of dedicated work and painstaking efforts on behalf of Hong Kong.

Ladies and gentlemen, I wish you all a rewarding Summit, and the best of health, and business, in the coming year. And I know you will enjoy all that Hong Kong, Asia’s world city, has to offer you.

Thank you.

Speech by CS at International Ombudsman Summit 2024 (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Speech by CS at International Ombudsman Summit 2024 (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases