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The Education and Manpower Bureau today (July 3) called on kindergartens, primary and secondary schools to take part in the Pledge Day on "My Pledge to Act - Live Hygiene Live Health" in the coming school year to enhance students' awareness on personal and public hygiene and civic responsibilities in order to build a clean campus.

The Principal Assistant Secretary for Education and Manpower, Dr K K Chan, said that the Bureau would organise the Pledge Day again in the 2004/05 school year to sustain the commitment of schools in realising the "Live Hygiene Live Health" mission.

She hoped that the event would help cultivate students' social morality and lead a healthy lifestyle through collective commitment.

She made the remarks at the Certificate Presentation Ceremony entitled "Let's Join Hands to Keep Hong Kong Clean by Sustaining Our Spirit in Combating SARS".

In response to the long-term measures recommended by the Team Clean, the Bureau initiated the Pledge Day last year. The event has been well-received with the participation from 1,050 kindergartens, primary and secondary schools.

At the ceremony, Dr Chan also thanked the participating schools for their determination and enthusiasm in promoting health and civic education. She hoped that schools would encourage students to take a pledge on the first day of every school year in maintaining good health, improving environmental hygiene as well as keeping other social commitments.

In addition, an exhibition showing Pledge Day-related activities of 31 participating schools was also staged today. For details please visit the Moral and Civic Education website at http://cd.emb.gov.hk/mce.

Ends/Saturday, July 3, 2004

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