Public Education and Publicity
Public education plays an indispensable role in ensuring food safety, improving environmental hygiene and promoting green burial as a more sustainable form of disposal of cremated human ashes. To this end, the Department organises publicity and educational programmes including talks, exhibitions and outreaching programmes to enhance the general public's awareness of these issues.
The Department operates a Health Education Exhibition and Resource Centre (the Centre) inside Kowloon Park. It arranges group visits and guided tours for schools, elderly centres, other non-governmental organisations and the public. Talks and outreaching activities are also conducted regularly. During the year, the Centre attracted 56,493 visitors, and organised 434 talks for kindergartens, primary schools and secondary schools, along with 957 talks-cum-activities for the general public. The Mobile Education Centre (a publicity vehicle) also conducted 160 visits to schools, housing estates, hospitals and public parks as part of the Department's outreaching efforts in promoting health education and enhancing publicity effect. Two healthy living handbooks with simple stories and educational games were issued and distributed in kindergartens and primary schools with a view to expanding students’ knowledge of personal and environmental hygiene, food safety and also cultivating good hygiene habits at an early age. Besides, relevant health information were distributed to elderly centres and homes to beef up the elderly’s awareness of food safety and personal hygiene.
In 2024, the Department continued its publicity on environmental hygiene, food safety and green burial through various channels, including Television and Radio Announcements in the Public Interest, departmental websites, social media such as Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, mobile applications, banners, posters, pamphlets and leaflets, as appropriate. Through the dedicated Facebook page and the Instagram page of Keep Clean Ambassador Ah Tak as well as Ah Tak's presence at public occasions and community functions, the Department disseminated various information on personal, household and environmental hygiene to the public and appealed for their co-operation and support in keeping Hong Kong clean. Anti-rodent and anti-mosquito campaigns were organised to solicit public support and participation in pest control.