Press Releases

Public become more aware of Healthy Living Campaign

The general public have become more aware of the three-year Healthy Living Campaign, and are more concerned about environmental, personal and food hygiene since a benchmark survey on the campaign was conducted in December last year.

This is one of the key findings of the second benchmark survey on the Campaign conducted by the Social Sciences Research Centre of the University of Hong Kong in June this year.

The two benchmark surveys, together with eight tracking surveys, were commissioned by the Healthy Living Campaign Steering Committee in 1998/99 to measure public awareness of the importance of maintaining high hygiene standards and to trace changes in public attitude and habits related to these issues.

The focus of the two benchmark surveys has been on public awareness of the Healthy Living Campaign and its effectiveness, assessment as to the cleanliness of Hong Kong, public attitudes towards food hygiene, as well as the habits and lifestyle of Hong Kong people.

In the second benchmark survey, 52 per cent of the 1,020 respondents said that they are aware of the Healthy Living Campaign, representing a 14 per cent increase on the first benchmark survey.

Sixty-six per cent of the respondents who have heard of the Campaign care more about environmental hygiene, an increase of 14 per cent over the first survey. Similarly, figures for personal hygiene and food safety have recorded an increase of 10 per cent over the findings of the last survey.

As regards public hygiene conditions, the second benchmark survey has revealed slight improvements in the cleanliness of the harbour, streets, and markets, etc, but the rating on air quality remains at a low level, indicating that the respondents are still dissatisfied with the air quality in the territory.

The public in general considers Hong Kong people lacking civic mindedness as evidenced by consistently low ratings in both surveys.

The benchmark survey continues to reveal that the eating habits of Hong Kong people needs improvement and in general, people do not have adequate physical exercise.

According to a tracking survey held in July this year, 86 per cent of respondents take the view that citizens have the main responsibility to keep Hong Kong clean and to improving cleanliness.

Commenting on the survey findings, Deputy Secretary for Health and Welfare, Mr Robin Gill, said the findings indicated that public awareness of the Healthy Living Campaign was rising, and that the publicity and promotional programmes launched so far had produced positive results.

"The findings reinforce the Government's determination to raise standards of environmental, personal and food hygiene through a co-ordinated approach of enforcement, prevention and education," he said.

"The Government is also encouraged to learn that the public are increasingly coming to the view that they themselves have a basic responsibility to maintain and improve Hong Kong's cleanliness.

"We will continue our efforts to encourage individuals to play a role as responsible members of the community," he added - "The Government alone cannot ensure that Hong Kong's current state of cleanliness is maintained or indeed improved."

Mr Gill said that the Government noted the low ratings given on the harbour, public toilets, markets, air quality and civic mindedness, and confirmed that the relevant Departments would make renewed efforts to tackle these issues.

End/Friday, September 3, 1999

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