More than 700 Alliance for Healthy Cities (AFHC) mayors, policy-makers and experts from 18 countries or cities today (29 October) attended the opening of a three-day global conference on Health in All Policies, which is being held in Hong Kong for the first time since it started in 2004. Funded by a HK$8.6 million donation from the Club’s Charities Trust, the global conference, organised by the China Hong Kong Chapter of the AFHC and HK’s 18 administrative districts, provides a platform to share knowledge and experience in health and life quality improvement.
Club Deputy Chairman Anthony W K Chow joined Chief Secretary for Administration Carrie Lam; Secretary for Food and Health Dr Ko Wing-man; World Health Organisation Regional Director for the Western Pacific Dr Shin Young-soo; China Hong Kong Chapter of the AFHC Chairman Dr George Ng; the 6th Global Conference of the AFHC Organising Committee Chairman Scarlett Pong and other guests to officiate at the opening ceremony of the biennial global conference.
Speaking at the conference, Mr Chow said the Club was dedicated to improving the quality of life of the Hong Kong people and delighted to bring the global conference to Hong Kong for the first time. “As the Club celebrates its 130th Anniversary this year, we will seek further ways of contributing to the community’s long-term sustainability. In the coming three to five years, the Club will have three overarching themes, including strategically focusing on the area that can help build Hong Kong into an age-friendly city,” he said.
Addressing the main theme of Health in All Policies, with three sub-themes covering Age-Friendly Cities, Prevention of Non-communicable Diseases and Public Health Emergency, conference participants will discuss how to improve health and well-being of the city through structures and mechanisms planned and managed by healthcare and other stakeholders. Key local speakers include University of Hong Kong Faculty of Medicine Dean Professor Gabriel Leung, Centre for Health Protection Controller Dr Leung Ting-hung and Elderly Commission Chairman Professor Alfred Chan.
Post-conference technical visits will be arranged by the Club for delegates to understand the challenges and opportunities Hong Kong is facing in improving health and well-being of the city. Highlights include the Jockey Club CADENZA Hub which promotes the importance of primary healthcare among middle-aged and elderly people; the JC-funded, first-ever mobile brain health promotional vehicle in Hong Kong, which provides outreach support for seniors across 18 districts through preliminary checks on memory problems; and the CUHK Jockey Club Minimally Invasive Surgical Skills Centre.
Another healthy lifestyle initiative funded by the Club is a series of district-based programmes under the Jockey Club Healthy City Community Projects to encourage public participation. For details, please visit http://www.afhc2014.org.hk/index.php.
Support has also been given to the China Hong Kong Chapter of AFHC and Jockey Club Design Institute for Social Innovation to jointly organise the first-of-its-kind Design for Well-being Award. The award is aimed at acknowledging, celebrating, promoting and inspiring creative solutions that improve well-being and healthy living in contemporary Asian and Western Pacific cities. For details, please visit http://www.designwellbeing.org/.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a world-class horse racing operator and Hong Kong’s largest community benefactor, as well as one of Asia’s most prestigious membership clubs. Operating as a not-for-profit organisation, the Club allocates its surplus for charitable and community projects. In 2013/14, its donations reached a record $3.6 billion, and in the last decade alone it supported over 1,275 projects. The Club is also Hong Kong’s largest single taxpayer, contributing a record HK$19.58 billion in 2013/14. With about 70% of its revenue given back to society every year through donations and tax contributions, The Hong Kong Jockey Club delivers a significantly higher return to the community than any other racing and/or sports betting organisation in the world. As a socially responsible organisation, the Club helps Government combat illegal betting and advocates responsible gambling. The Club is also one of Hong Kong’s largest employers with over 24,800 full-time and part-time staff. Committed to global excellence and giving back to society, the Club is always “riding high together for a better future” with the people of Hong Kong.
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Club Deputy Chairman Anthony W K Chow says the Club is dedicated to improving the quality of life of the Hong Kong people and delighted to bring the global conference to Hong Kong for the first time.
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Club Deputy Chairman Anthony W K Chow (1st right) joined Chief Secretary for Administration Carrie Lam (4th right); Secretary for Food and Health Dr Ko Wing-man (2nd right); World Health Organisation Regional Director for the Western Pacific Dr Shin Young-soo (4th left); China Hong Kong Chapter of the AFHC Chairman Dr George Ng (3rd right); the 6th Global Conference of the AFHC Organising Committee Chairman Scarlett Pong (3rd left) and other guests to officiate at the opening ceremony of the biennial global conference.
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Club Deputy Chairman Anthony W K Chow (1st right), Chief Secretary for Administration Carrie Lam (2nd left); World Health Organisation Regional Director for the Western Pacific Dr Shin Young-soo (1st left); China Hong Kong Chapter of the AFHC Chairman Dr George Ng (centre) and the 6th Global Conference of the AFHC Organising Committee Chairman Scarlett Pong (2nd right).
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World Health Organisation Director-General Dr Margaret Chan congratulates the opening of the 6th Global Conference of the Alliance for Healthy Cities.
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More than 700 AFHC mayors, policy-makers and experts from 18 countries or cities attend the 6th Global Conference of the Alliance for Healthy Cities to share updated knowledge and experiences in the implementation of healthy cities.
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