Hong Kong – DH to adopt new growth charts in second half of 2024 (with photo)
DH to adopt new growth charts in second half of 2024 (with photo)
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The Department of Health (DH) today (April 22) announced that a new set of growth charts, i.e. the Hong Kong 2020 Growth References (HK2020), with new references and definitions will be adopted by the DH starting from the second half of this year as a better tool to assess and monitor the growth of children and adolescents.
A spokesman for the DH said that growth charts serve as an important reference tool for clinical assessment of an individual child, and facilitate the monitoring of growth trends of the entire population of children and the timely adjustment of public health measures and strategies on enhancing children’s health. To study the growth of contemporary Hong Kong children and review the existing growth charts developed in 1993 (HK1993), the DH, the Department of Paediatrics of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and the Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine of the University of Hong Kong jointly conducted the Hong Kong Growth Study (HKGS) which was funded by the Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF) of the Health Bureau. The research team also reviewed whether the Child Growth Standards developed by the World Health Organization for children 0 to 5 years old in 2006 (WHO2006) was suitable to be adopted for use in Hong Kong.
The key characteristics of the HKGS and the development of the HK2020 include the following:
- The study was funded by the HMRF of the Health Bureau. The HMRF has been supporting various health and medical research to inform health policies and improve population health through evidence-based scientific knowledge;
- Apart from the funding from the HMRF, the HKGS reviewed and analysed the growth data of over two million local children collected by the DH’s Family Health Service and Student Health Service. In addition, a population-based growth survey was conducted from 2019 to 2022, with growth data collected from over 21 300 infants, children and adolescents at hospitals, health centres and education institutes; and
- The HKGS results revealed a clear secular trend in height for children and adolescents in Hong Kong. Thus a new set of growth charts for child-growth monitoring is required in Hong Kong.
Based on the data collected in the growth survey and advice from local and overseas experts, four sets of gender-specific growth charts for children 0 to 18 years are developed in the HK2020, namely (1) Weight-for-age charts; (2) Length/height-for-age charts; (3) Body Mass Index (BMI)-for-age charts; and (4) Head circumference-for-age charts. Comparing the new and old growth charts, the weight and height in HK2020 were higher than that in HK1993, particularly at pubertal ages. Notably, an increase of about 2 centimetres in median height was found for boys and girls at the age of 18.
Moreover, the data of Hong Kong children 0-5 years in the survey also fitted the WHO2006 reasonably well. The HKGS concluded that HK2020 for 0 to 18 years and WHO2006 for 0 to 5 years are suitable for use for Hong Kong children. Also, as the distribution of body fat for children changes with age, the study recommended an updated definition and assessment for overweight/obesity by using BMI-for-age instead of weight-for-height. The growth assessment in many places (including the Mainland, the United Kingdom and the United States) are also using BMI as a reference. The DH will continue its healthy lifestyle promotion among children and parents and various health promotion programmes (such as the Whole School Health Programme) in order to better prevent and improve the overweight situation of the children.
To provide an updated reference tool to assess and monitor the growth of children and adolescents, the DH will adopt the HK2020 at its Maternal and Child Health Centres (MCHCs) and Student Health Service Centres (SHSCs) for growth monitoring of children aged 0 to 5 years and 6 to 18 years respectively. The new growth charts are expected to be deployed in July this year for MCHCs and in September this year for SHSCs. Starting from September this year, the Hospital Authority will implement the new growth charts in its hospitals in phases, with a view to rolling out to all its hospitals by end of 2024. The District Health Centres currently providing services targeted at children, including group classes and outreach health risk assessment, will also support the launching of the new growth charts. In addition, the DH will also send letters to healthcare professional bodies and stakeholders to inform them of the study and the new growth charts. Moreover, the new growth chart shall also be made available in the eHealth app for use and viewing.
Relevant information of the study will be made available at the HKGS website as well as the website of DH for reference and use by professionals. For more information on the updated set of growth charts, please visit www.dh.gov.hk/english/useful/useful_PP_Growth_Chart/useful_PP_Growth_Chart.html and www.dh.gov.hk/english/useful/useful_HP_Growth_Chart/useful_HP_Growth_Chart.html.
Hong Kong presents innovative projects at International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva (with photo)
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A Hong Kong delegation of close to 700 participants from 40 institutions, including universities, research and development (R&D) centres, laboratories, technology companies, government departments, and primary and secondary schools, exhibited more than 360 projects at the exhibition. Among over 1 000 inventions this year, the Hong Kong delegation won 28 Gold Medals with Congratulations of Jury and 114 Gold Medals, totalling a record high of over 350 prizes.
The Government accords top priority to promoting innovation and technology (I&T) development and establishing Hong Kong as an international I&T centre. Speaking at the reception, the Director of the HKETO Berlin, Ms Jenny Szeto, highlighted the Government’s commitment and recent policies to foster an innovation-friendly environment in Hong Kong, in particular supporting R&D activities and commercialisation of their outcomes.
“In this year’s Budget, we have doubled the maximum funding to the Technology Transfer Office of each specified university, and will also be providing annual subsidies to nurture start-up development within the universities. And just last year, we have launched the Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One-plus Scheme to promote the ‘1 to N’ transformation. The scheme aims to encourage the commercialisation and technology transfer of universities’ R&D outcomes, and will fund at least 100 research teams from local universities which have good potential to become successful start-ups,” Ms Szeto explained.
In addition, the Government has also been spearheading efforts to attract I&T talent. To accelerate the expansion of the talent pool, the Government has launched the Technology Talent Admission Scheme, providing a fast-track arrangement for companies to admit young tech talent from abroad to undertake R&D work in Hong Kong.
Founded in 1972, the International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva is the largest global exhibition exclusively devoted to inventions. This year’s event showcased a record high of more than 1 000 inventions from about 40 countries and regions.
About HKETO Berlin
HKETO Berlin is the official representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in commercial relations and other economic and trade matters in Switzerland as well as Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia.
Hong Kong films and talent celebrated in Chicago (with photos)
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SITI congratulates Hong Kong delegation shines at 49th International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva
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The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, today (April 21), congratulated the Hong Kong delegation. He said, “The record-breaking number of awards won by the delegation at the International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva this year is encouraging as it not only reflects the international recognition of Hong Kong’s research and scientific achievements, but also exemplifies Hong Kong’s profound strength in innovation and technology (I&T), which has laid a solid foundation for Hong Kong to become an international I&T centre.”
Sick person in custody dies in public hospital
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The person in custody suffered from lung cancer. She required continuous medical care and follow-up treatment at the institution hospital and a public hospital. On April 8, she was sent to a public hospital for treatment due to physical discomfort. During hospitalisation, her condition deteriorated and she was certified dead at 2.23pm today.
The case has been reported to the Police. A death inquest will be held by the Coroner’s Court.
The person in custody was sentenced to imprisonment for the offence of theft in September 2023.
Basic Law Quiz Competition Final and Prize Presentation Ceremony held today (with photos)
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Hong Kong – Hong Kong presents innovative projects at International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva (with photo)
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Berlin (HKETO Berlin) hosted a reception on the occasion of Hong Kong’s participation in the 49th International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva on April 19 (Geneva time). Hong Kong – Hong Kong films and talent celebrated in Chicago (with photos)
Hong Kong films highlighted the closing weekend (April 19 to 21, Chicago time) of Season 18 of Chicago’s Asian Pop-Up Cinema (APUC).
Supported by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York (HKETONY), the boutique film festival presented nine Hong Kong films in the theatre and online under the Hong Kong Cinema Showcase banner.
Two Hong Kong film talents were honoured on the closing night on April 20 (Chicago time) – legendary actress and singer Rebecca Pan was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award, while actor Carlos Chan received the Bright Star Award.
In addition, APUC screened the documentary “Pai Niang Niang: The Last Osmanthus Blossom”, which incorporates lost recordings of Pan’s 1972 musical, “Pai Niang Niang”, which has been regarded as Hong Kong’s first musical production in the Chinese language. Chan’s “We Are Family” was chosen as the closing-night feature.
Apart from Chan, four directors whose works were featured in the Hong Kong Cinema Showcase, namely Isabel Wong (“Pai Niang Niang: The Last Osmanthus Blossom”), Benny Lau (“We Are Family”), Lai Yan-chi (“Band Four”) and Kelvin Shum (“It Remains”), were also invited to attend APUC’s closing night.
Paying tribute, the Director of HKETONY, Ms Maisie Ho, said that Pan is a trailblazer and a Hong Kong icon whose illustrious and prolific career in the world of music, film and the arts spans over six decades.
“I’m pleased that the Chicago audience has a chance to watch the United States premiere of the documentary, ‘Pai Niang Niang: The Last Osmanthus Blossom’, that captures an important piece of history of Hong Kong art and culture,” she said.
She added Hong Kong’s dynamic film and entertainment industry, with its storied history, has an abundance of talent, from pioneers like Pan to emerging talent like Chan. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will continue to support the city’s creative industries, including the film industry, and nurture talent.Hong Kong – SITI congratulates Hong Kong delegation shines at 49th International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva
The 49th International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva, being one of the most significant global annual events on inventions, was held from April 17 to 21 in Geneva, Switzerland. Hong Kong delegation was the largest ever, comprising close to 700 representatives from 40 organisations including universities, research and development centres, research laboratories, technology companies, government departments, and primary and secondary schools. The delegation has won a record high number of over 350 prizes, including six Special Awards, 28 Gold Medals with Congratulations of Jury and 114 Gold Medals.Hong Kong – Sick person in custody dies in public hospital
A sick 62-year-old female person in custody at Lo Wu Correctional Institution died in a public hospital today (April 21).Hong Kong – Basic Law Quiz Competition Final and Prize Presentation Ceremony held today (with photos)
Jointly organised by the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB), the Committee on the Promotion of Civic Education (CPCE) and the Working Group on Local Community under the Constitution and Basic Law Promotion Steering Committee, the Basic Law Quiz Competition Final and Prize Presentation Ceremony was held today (April 21). This year’s competition received an overwhelming response, attracting a record-breaking number of over 42 000 participants.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Acting Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Mr Clarence Leung, said that the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) stemmed from the Constitution. Article 31 of the Constitution stipulates that “the state may establish special administrative regions when necessary”. The formulation of the Basic Law and the “one country, two systems” principle were also based on the Constitution. Under the “one country, two systems” principle, the Central Government authorises the HKSAR to enact laws on its own to prohibit acts that endanger national security in accordance with Article 23 of the Basic Law. The Safeguarding National Security Ordinance officially took effect upon gazettal on March 23, ensuring the effective protection of national security and enhancing social stability and harmony. With safety comes stability; with stability comes prosperity.
He added that the HKSAR Government has been dedicated to enhancing public understanding of the Constitution, the Basic Law and the National Security Law, while the ceremony is one of the flagship events of the HYAB. He said he was delighted to know that the number of participants this year reached a record high and thanked the public for their support for the competition.
The quiz competition covered the relationship between the Constitution and the Basic Law, the Basic Law and its history and the National Security Law. The competition comprises the Family, Senior Primary School, Secondary School and Open categories. To tie in with the quiz competition, the organisers hosted four seminars in February and March to introduce the Constitution and the Basic Law to secondary and primary school students.
The HYAB has long been working closely with the CPCE in promoting the Constitution, the Basic Law and the National Security Law at the community level through various channels and diversified means, including publishing parent-child magazines, creating websites and social media pages, organising competitions, seminars and exhibitions, as well as sponsoring eligible organisations to organise various promotional and exchange activities on civic and national education.Ads
