Speeches

Opening remarks by SFH at press conference on Food and Health Bureau initiatives in 2014 Policy Address

Following is the opening remarks by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, at a press conference today (January 17) on policy initiatives of the Food and Health Bureau in the 2014 Policy Address:

I would now like to say a few words in English to outline the major policy initiatives under the Food and Health Bureau.

On health care services, we will continue to increase the capacity of our public hospitals. We are conducting strategic studies on the planned acute general hospital in the Kai Tak Development. We will also extend the Public-Private Partnership Programme to allow more general out-patient clinic patients with specific chronic diseases, such as hypertension and diabetes, with a choice to receive treatment in private clinics.

On elderly services, we will double the annual voucher amount under the Elderly Health Care Voucher Scheme to $2,000 per year and convert the "Pilot Project on Outreach Primary Dental Care Services for the Elderly in Residential Care Homes and Day Care Centres" into a regular programme.

We will plan and develop a pilot programme to subsidise colorectal cancer screening for well-defined target groups. The Government has also decided to reserve a piece of land in Tseung Kwan O for Chinese medicine hospital development.

On food safety and environmental hygiene, we will prepare legislation to regulate nutrition labelling of formula products and foods for infants and young children under the age of 36 months, complete the consultancy study to review the positioning and functions of public markets, as well as launch within this year a review on agricultural policy.

Thank you.

Ends/Friday, January 17, 2014
Issued at HKT 17:03

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