Crackdown on illegal hillside burials: authorities take action
The Home Affairs Department, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) and the Lands Department (LandsD) today (May 9) launched a joint enforcement operation at the Permitted Burial Ground (PBG) of Po Toi O (SK/03) in Sai Kung against illegal hillside burials. It is anticipated that 13 illegal urns will be removed in about one day's time, and the human remains therein will be reburied at the Sandy Ridge Cemetery.
The FEHD and the LandsD posted notices on 13 unauthorised urns located within the PBG of Po Toi O in Sai Kung on March 14 this year, requiring the related persons of the urns concerned to cease occupation of the government land and to contact relevant government departments on or before April 15 this year, or else the human remains therein would be reburied at the Sandy Ridge Cemetery. As all 13 urns remained unclaimed upon expiry of the deadline, the Government commenced the clearance operation today.
The Government has been implementing a pilot scheme on the management of PBGs in individual PBGs since 2016. Taking into account the actual circumstances of each PBG, the Government has been implementing appropriate improvement measures, including erecting boundary pillars for the PBGs, conducting record surveys of existing graves/urn houses/urns, imposing restrictions on the size of burial sites and demarcating available spaces in PBGs for new applications of burial sites, in order to ensure that the places of burials are within PBGs. The pilot scheme has now been extended to 15 PBGs, covering all nine administrative districts in the New Territories.
Having examined the data obtained from the pilot scheme, the Government has commenced enforcement actions against illegal burials in the PBGs in phases from July 2021 onwards. Besides conducting enforcement actions in the PBG of Po Toi O in Sai Kung, the Government will also commence follow-up actions in other PBGs under the pilot scheme, including posting notices on other unauthorised graves/urn houses/urns before the coming Chung Yeung Festival, with a view to removing unclaimed graves/urn houses/urns as soon as possible after the expiration of the notice period.
A Government spokesman reiterated that, according to the Land (Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 28), it is an offence when any person occupying government land, otherwise than under permission from the Authority, does not cease the occupation as required by a notice prescribed by the Ordinance. Any property or structure on the occupied government land may be demolished and removed by the Government, and the occupier may be prosecuted. Furthermore, according to the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132), it is an offence to bury human remains without permission in writing of the Authority. Offenders are liable to prosecution, and the human remains inside the graves concerned will be removed.
Source: AI-generated images
DH urges public on World Obesity Day to manage weight through healthy lifestyle
Today (March 4) is World Obesity Day and the Controller of the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health (DH),Dr Edwin Tsui, reminded the public that obesity increases the risk of many chronic diseases and urged them to pay attention to the problem of obesity and develop a healthy lifestyle to achieve and maintain an appropriate body weight.
The World Obesity Federation has designated March 4 each year as World Obesity Dayto promote and support the maintenance of a healthy body weight and to address the global obesity crisis. The theme of this year's World Obesity Day is "Changing Systems, Healthier Lives", which calls on the public to focus on the factors that contribute to the increasing rates of obesity around the world and strive to improve food systems, the environment and health systems, etc.
In Hong Kong, a body mass index (BMI) of adults from 23 to less than 25 is regarded as overweight, while a BMI of 25 or more is considered obese. According to the Population Health Surveyconducted by the DH, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among people aged between 15 and 84 in Hong Kong increased from 50 per cent in 2014/15 to 54.6 per cent in 2020-22.
As for students who attended the DH's Student Health Service Centres for an annual health assessment, the prevalence of overweight (including obesity) among primary students decreased from 19.5 per cent in 2022/23 school year to 16.4 per cent in 2023/24 school year, which was a record low since 2014/15 school year. However, the prevalence of overweight (including obesity) among secondary students remained high at 20 per cent.
"Extensive research over the world has shown that increasing obesity is associated with increasing mortality. Obesity is a major risk factor for a number of chronic diseases, including hypertension, heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cancer, musculoskeletal disorders and sleep apnoea. To achieve and maintain a healthy weight, members of the public are encouraged to practice healthy living from an early age, including maintaining a balanced diet, being physically active and reducing the amount of time spent being sedentary," Dr Tsui said.
The DH has been working with other government departments and community partners to promote healthy lifestyles, including theEatSmart Restaurant Star+campaign, theStartSmart@school.hk,EatSmart@school.hkcampaigns, and the "10 000 Steps a Day" campaign. "The Chief Executive's 2024 Policy Address" also announced the establishment of a Life-course Health Promotion Strategy and strengthening of the DH's Whole School Health Programme.
In addition, to shift the emphasis of the healthcare system and mindset from treatment-oriented to prevention-oriented, the Government is reforming healthcare services with the establishment of District Health Centres (DHCs) that provide health promotions, health-risk factor assessments, disease screenings and chronic disease management. The DHCs also conduct various kinds of health promotion activities, including offering guidance on healthy eating patterns, weight management and the provision of exercise classes.
