District governance: Citywide makeover brings fresh vibes

In the heart of Tsuen Wan, taking a walk through the footpaths around Lo Tak Court is reminiscent of the unique charm of traditional walled villages.

The Government is committed to enhancing the community’s streetscapes by beautifying public spaces and streets. Led by the Deputy Chief Secretary, the Task Force on District Governance actively supports various local initiatives. One of them is aimed at creating a pedestrian-friendly environment to elevate the public’s walking experience.

In this regard, the Highways Department has implemented streetscape improvements in Lo Tak Court in Tsuen Wan, the Outlying Islands Ferry Pier in Central and in the vicinity of MTR Tai Wai station, introducing thematic designs to pedestrian facilities that reflect the character of the districts.

The design on the footbridge across Hip Wo Street in Kwun Tong will showcase the view from the peak of Shum Wan Shan, offering a panoramic scene of Kowloon Peak and Shun Lee Estate.

Inspiring nostalgia

Located on the original site of Ho Pui Village in Tsuen Wan, which was demolished in the 1960s, Lo Tak Court comprises multiple pedestrian streets and serves as a bustling food hub in the district.

The area’s beautification design adopts the Tsuen Wan Walled Village theme as it features uniquely decorated lampposts and flower beds that revive the historic village’s architectural traits and landscape.

"The design of thematic wallpapers for planters resembles the furniture and decoration of an old walled village, giving pedestrians an impression of looking back into the room from the courtyard," Highways Department Landscape Architectural Assistant Angela Lam explained.

She added that wallpapers on lampposts adopt the concept of brick walls, tile roofs, and decorative ceilings of the old walled village.

Highways Department Landscape Architectural Assistant Angela Lam says Lo Tak Court’s beautification adopts the Tsuen Wan Walled Village theme and scenery of blossoming cotton trees nearby.

It may not be spring yet, but cotton trees are still blossoming in the form of paintings adorning the columns of footbridges.

Miss Lam highlighted that the original site near Tsuen Wan MTR station, adjacent to Lo Tak Court, was named Muk Min Ha Tsuen, which in English means cotton trees. Nowadays, many cotton trees still bloom every year outside the station, attracting various small animals, such as birds and squirrels.

This scenery has been incorporated into the paintings on the columns of footbridges and manhole covers, making them popular photo spots in Lo Tak Court.

Street beautification projects unveiled in Central and Tai Wai also showcase the districts unique cultural charm.

The department has been repaving a total of 40 sections of public footpaths spanning over 16,700m to ensure an enhanced walking experience for citizens.

The Outlying Islands Ferry Pier in Central evokes the nostalgia of Lamma Island's fishing village culture with its soft blue tint. Adding to the atmosphere are designs incorporating the windsurfing sail of Hong Kong’s first Olympic gold medallist Lee Lai-shan and Cheung Chau’s famous lucky buns.

Outside Tai Wai MTR station, paintings of egrets along the river channels to Tolo Harbour are a common sight, alongside depictions of city wildlife like masked palm civets and leopard cats, as a nod to urban waterways and rural life.

Fantastic makeovers

Hong Kong's 18 districts are set for a makeover as the department is taking various measures to refine the urban scenery.

It also plans to renovate or refurbish two pedestrian footbridges and subways in each district in two phases, covering repairs, repainting, and upgrades to handrails and lighting for improved safety and comfort. The first phase, which has already begun, is projected to conclude gradually by year-end.

Highways Department Landscape Architect Sandra Ng said that the design concepts will be customised to highlight the individuality of each district.

Highways Department Landscape Architect Sandra Ng says the first phase of renovations in each district has alread.

Drawing on the example of the footbridge construction across Hip Wo Street in Kwun Tong, Miss Ng emphasised that the design is themed on mountain trails inspired by the nearby hiking route Shum Wan Shan, known as the Kwun Tong Back Garden.

“On the main walls, we are featuring a view from the peak of Shum Wan Shan, showing the view of Kowloon Peak and Shun Lee Estate. Also, the walls along the barrier-free access will display continuous graphics of shrubs and trees to match the hiking theme.

“We hope to introduce this unique and precious Kwun Tong Back Garden in the district to more members of the public.”

Miss Ng pointed out that a pedestrian subway in Sha Tin will also be revamped with a design integrating the district’s landmarks, such as Tsang Tai Uk and Lek Yuen Bridge, with visuals of rowing boats and cyclists along the Shing Mun River. Such improvements, she revealed, embrace a blend of motion and stillness, and a sense of urban vitality.

The department expects the second phase of the renovation to start in early 2025 for gradual completion by the middle of the year.

The department plans to renovate designated footbridges and subways across Hong Kong’s 18 districts in two phases.

Road improvements

Meanwhile, it has launched the Expanded Footpath Repaving Scheme to repave a total of 40 sections of public footpaths spanning over 16,700m, encompassing locations such as Queensway in the Central & Western District and Salisbury Road in the Yau Tsim Mong District.

The department stressed that it thinks carefully about overall pavement conditions to enhance citizens’ walking experience when it comes to planning such maintenance and repair work.

Public urged to stay vigilant against cardiovascular diseases in support of World Heart Day

The Department of Health (DH) today (September 29) urged members of the public to take positive steps to care for their hearts and prevent cardiovascular diseases. This appeal was made in support of World Heart Dayheld on September 29 annually.

Cardiovascular diseases, including heart disease and stroke, are the leading cause of death globally. However, 80 per cent of premature deaths from cardiovascular diseases are preventable by limiting risk factors and practising heart-healthy behaviours. The most important behavioural risk factors of heart disease and stroke are unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, use of tobacco and alcohol. The effects of behavioural risk factors may show up in individuals as overweight and obesity, raised blood pressure, raised blood glucose, and raised blood lipids. These "intermediate risks factors" can be measured in primary care facilities and indicate an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure and other complications. Identifying those at a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases and ensuring they receive appropriate treatment can prevent premature deaths.

In Hong Kong, cardiovascular diseases are a major cause of mortality and morbidity. In 2023, there were 11 138 registered deaths* attributed to cardiovascular diseases, including 7 258 deaths* due to heart diseases. The Population Health Survey (PHS) 2020-22 adopted the Framingham Risk Model to predict the risk of cardiovascular outcomes including coronary heart diseases, strokes, peripheral artery diseases and heart failure. Among asymptomatic persons aged 40 to 74 living in the community, 18.4 per cent were classified as high risk for cardiovascular issues, with a likelihood of 20 per cent or more over the next 10 years. The proportion of persons classified as high risk was much higher in males (34.0 per cent) than females (4.9 per cent) and increased with age (from 1.1 per cent among persons aged 40 to 44 to 44.5 per cent among persons aged 65 to 74).

More importantly, local surveys revealed that risk factors of cardiovascular diseases were prevalent among the general population. Among persons aged 15 or above, 97.9 per cent reported consuming an average of less than five servings of fruit and vegetables per day, which is the amount recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), 9.1 per cent were daily conventional cigarette smokers, and 8.7 per cent consumed alcohol regularly (i.e. at least once a week). In addition, the PHS 2020-22 revealed that 24.8 per cent of persons aged 18 or above did not meet the WHO's recommended levels of aerobic physical activity for optimal health. The prevalence of overweight and obesity, raised blood pressure, raised blood glucose and raised total blood cholesterol among persons aged between 15 and 84 was 54.6 per cent, 29.5 per cent, 8.5 per cent and 51.9 per cent, respectively.

To guard against cardiovascular diseases, members of the public are urged to lead a healthy lifestyle that includes eating a balanced diet with at least five daily servings of fruit and vegetables, reducing fat, salt and sugar intake, being physically active, avoiding smoking, and refraining from alcohol consumption.

Apart from healthy living, early identification and proper management of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, including diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension (HT), is another key strategy for lowering the risk of cardiovascular diseases. The Government launched the three-year Chronic Disease Co-Care Pilot Scheme (CDCC Pilot Scheme) on November 13, 2023, to subsidise Hong Kong residents aged 45 or above with no known medical history of DM or HT to undergo DM and HT screening services in the private healthcare sector. As at August 7, 2024, around 40 per cent* of participants who have completed the screening have been diagnosed with prediabetes, DM or HT. They can then receive long-term follow-up care in the community provided by Family Doctors, District Health Centre (DHC)/DHC Express, and other healthcare service providers according to clinical conditions. For more details, members of the public may browse the dedicated website of the CDCC Pilot Scheme (www.primaryhealthcare.gov.hk/cdcc/en).

To help members of the public maintain heart health, the Government will continue organising health promotional campaigns and work in close partnership with community partners to increase public awareness about the importance of healthy living in preventing cardiovascular diseases and to foster a heart-healthy environment.

For more information about healthy living, please visit the Change4Health website of the DH.

*Provisional figures