Join the fun on sport for all day 2024: free recreation and sports programmes for all ages, live webcasts, and olympic spirit in hong kong community
In order to continuously build a "Sport for All" culture in the community, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will hold the Sport For All Day (SFAD) 2024 on August 4 (Sunday). Most leisure facilities under the purview of the LCSD will be open for free use, and a series of free recreation and sports programmes will be held in designated sports centres across districts. Members of the public are welcome to participate in the event. Participants can also watch live webcast of sports demonstrations at home to exercise in a fun way.
To implement the policy measure relating to the promotion of sports for all as specified in the 2023 Policy Address, the LCSD will collaborate with the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC), over 10 sports organisations and private reactional organisations to hold free recreation and sports programmes for the public to join, or open up their facilities for free use on this year's SFAD.
The slogan of the SFAD 2024 will remain "Stay Active, Healthy and Happy!" to encourage people of all ages and abilities to engage in regular sports and physical activities, and promote the benefits of exercise for the body and mind. The theme of this year's event is "Parent-child Exercise for Fun and Fitness", aiming to introduce parent-child fitness exercises to encourage members of the public to pursue healthier bodies and better relationships among family members.
On the event day, the LCSD will hold diversified and free recreation and sports programmes from 2pm to 6pm at designated sports centres in 18 districts, including health talks, fitness corners, sports demonstrations and participation activities for the elderly and persons with disabilities, as well as parent-child exercises to tie in with the theme of the event. Participants and their families can enjoy the fun in sports while joining the activities.
The 2024 Paris Olympic Games and Paralympic Games will be held soon. To help create an Olympic atmosphere, the SFAD 2024 will feature activities on some selected Olympic sports in order to promote the public understanding of them and cheer for the athletes.
Sports demonstrations will be featured in a live webcast via the event dedicated website (www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/sfad) and the "LCSD Plusss" Facebook page (www.facebook.com/LCSDPlusss) on the event day from 2pm. Members of the public can experience the vigour of sports demonstrations at home through online platforms.
At the same time, various LCSD leisure facilities will also be open for free use by the public on the Sport For All Day 2024 to develop a habit of regular exercise. Booking arrangements will be announcedin mid-July.
The leisure facilities to be available for free use on August 4 include:
* Citizens who book these types of facilities must hold the relevant qualification certificates. For details, please visit the thematic website at www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/sfad.
The SF&OC will set up an SFAD activity booth at the "Sport for All Fun Day" of Festival of Sports, which will be held at the Free Space in Kwun Tong Town Centre from 11am to 6pm on August 3 and 4, aiming to further enhance public interest in sporting activities. For the details of the event, please visit the website of the SF&OC at fos.hkolympic.org/en/programme/event-list. Furthermore, to echo the SFAD 2024, more than 10 organisations will hold free recreation and sports programmes for the public to join, or open up their facilities for free use on the day of the event. Details are available on the dedicated webpage (www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/sfad/2024/organizations.html).
The Sport For All Day 2024 is co-organised by the SF&OC; Department of Health; the Sports Medicine Team of the Chinese University of Hong Kong; the Sports Medicine and Health Science Alumni Association of the Chinese University of Hong Kong; the Physical Fitness Association of Hong Kong, China; and the Sports Association for the Physically Disabled of Hong Kong, China. Please visit the dedicated website at www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/sfad for details.
New oral drug for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria approved for registration in hong kong under 1+ mechanism, expanding treatment options and enhancing healthcare access
Governmentspokesmanannounced today (July 5) that another new drug submitted for registration under the new drug approval mechanism ("1+" mechanism) announced in the "Chief Executive's 2023 Policy Address" has been approved for registration in Hong Kong. This new oral drug is used to treat paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, bringing more treatment options for patients.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Governmentimplemented "1+" mechanism since November 1, 2023. Under the "1+" mechanism, new drugs used for treatment of life-threatening or severely debilitating diseases that are supported with local clinical data are only required to submit approval from drug regulatory authority in one of the reference places (instead of two originally) and recognised by local experts can be registered in Hong Kong.
The above product for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria has been approved by the drug regulatory authority in the United States and submitted for registration application in Hong Kong under the "1+" mechanism. Having considered the clinical data submitted by the applicant and advices given by local expert, the Registration Committee under the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong considered that the new drug satisfied with the criteria of safety, efficacy and quality, and approved the registration of the new drug at a meeting held yesterday (July 4). The Department of Health (DH) has already notified the applicant the result of the application. The HKSAR Government will also complete the relevant registration processes in accordance with established procedures.
At present, under the "Subsidy for Eligible Patients to Purchase Ultra-expensive Drugs (Including Those for Treating Uncommon Disorders)" (CCF Ultra-expensive Drugs Programme) launched by the HKSAR Government and the Hospital Authority (HA), there is already a drug that can treat the same clinical indication. The above new drug approved for registration under the "1+" mechanism will provide patients and healthcare professionals with more choices, increase market competition and may reduce procurement costs.
"The Chief Executive's 2023 Policy Address" announced that the Government will leverage the medical strengths of the HKSAR with the long-term objective of establishing an authority that registers drugs and medical devices (medical products) under the "primary evaluation" approach, i.e. to directly approve applications for registration of medical products in Hong Kong based on clinical trial data, without relying on registration approval from other drug regulatory authorities. This will help accelerate the clinical use of new drugs and medical devices, and foster the development of industries relating to the research and development and clinical trials of medical products, developing Hong Kong into an international health and medical innovative hub.
On December 7, 2023, two new drug applications for treating cancer were approved under the "1+" mechanism for the first time. The two new cancer drugs are oral targeted drugs in different dosages for treating metastatic colorectal cancer in patients for whom conventional chemotherapeutic drugs are ineffective or unsuitable. As at July 3 this year, about 30 patients in the HA have already used the two new cancer drugs concerned. The HA will encourage drug manufacturers or suppliers to apply for local registration of unregistered drugs with ongoing needs and continue to liaise closely with the DH regarding the "1+" mechanism. Under the "1+" mechanism, the number of drugs successfully registered would increase, thus enabling clinicians to enjoy a wider choice of drugs to support service needs. In addition, when a new drug could be registered in Hong Kong under the "1+" mechanism, listed on the HA Drug Formulary and is proven to have significant clinical benefits, it may be considered to be covered by the Samaritan Fund or the Community Care Fund. At the same time, the DH has been promoting the "1+" mechanism by seizing various opportunities and through different channels, and has received over 210 enquiries involving around 70 pharmaceutical companies. At present, several companies have expressed interest in applying for registration under the "1+" mechanism.
Whilst the "1+" mechanism brings good drugs for use in Hong Kong, the requirements of local clinical data and recognition by relevant expert for application for registration (the "+" under the "1+" mechanism) will ensure all the pharmaceutical products approved for registration have fulfilled the stringent requirements of safety, efficacy and quality. It will also strengthen the local capacity of drug evaluation and enhance the development of relevant software, hardware and expertise.
Besides, the HKSAR Government has set up the Preparatory Office for the Hong Kong Centre for the Medical Products Regulation (CMPR) under the DH on June 5 this year to comprehensively study and plan a regulatory and approval regime for drugs and medical devices suitable for Hong Kong, and to put forward proposals and steps for the establishment of the CMPR.
The HKSAR Government will continue to attract more pharmaceutical and medical device enterprises, both locally and from around the world, to conduct research and development and clinical trials in Hong Kong as well as build up the capacity, recognition and status to ensure that the eventual approval mechanism of medical products in Hong Kong would be widely recognised internationally and by the Mainland, and develop Hong Kong into an international health and medical innovation hub.
Source: AI-generated images
