******************************************************
More than 467,000 students from 1,023 pre-primary institutions, primary, special education and secondary schools enjoyed nutritious fruit today (April 30) in support of "430 Fruit Day 2009", a major event under the EatSmart@school.hk campaign.
Organised for three consecutive years, the event is aimed at fostering the cooperation of schools and parents to develop a school environment conducive to healthy eating as well as fruit and vegetable consumption to protect children from developing chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke and certain types of cancer.
This year's event set a record of about 72.5%, 68.6%, 62.6% and 23.2%, of students from pre-primary institutions, primary, special education and secondary schools respectively consuming fruits at school on the same day.
Last year, about 440,000 students from 907 institutions participated in the event.
Speaking at the ceremony to mark the event at Lai Chi Kok Park Sports Centre, the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, encouraged students to consume two servings of fruits and three servings of vegetables daily to maintain good health.
Students could also share the fun and benefit of eating fruits to their families and friends, and use fruits as a theme in school-based activities to show their love and concern to others, Dr Chow said.
To show his support, Dr Chow participated in a fruit basket making competition during the ceremony with representatives from supporting organisations, schools, parents and students.
Under the event's theme "Fruit Day every day, share the gift today", primary schools students helped distributing fruit baskets as gifts of care, concern and good health to participants after the ceremony.
"430 Joyful Fruit Day 2009" is a territory wide event co-organised by the Department of Health, Education Bureau, Radio-Television Hong Kong, Hong Kong Education City, Committee on Home-School Co-operation, Hong Kong College of Cardiology and World Cancer Research Fund Hong Kong. It is supported by Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and all Federations of Parent-Teacher Associations.
Other officiating guests of the ceremony included Legislative Councilor, Mr Tommy Cheung; Chairman of Working Group on Diet and Physical Activity under the Strategic Framework for Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases, Professor Alfred Chan; Permanent Secretary for Education, Mr Raymond Wong; Director of Health, Dr PY Lam; District Governor of Rotary International District 3450 (Hong Kong, Macau & Mongolia) Dr Albert WK Wong; and Vice-Chairman of Physical Fitness Association of Hong Kong, Prof SC Hui.
All members and sectors of society have a part to play to make people's healthy choices easier choices. The Department of Health was pleased with the active support given by schools and parents in making the "Joyful Fruit Day" a successful event.
More information on Fruit Day of the 'EatSmart@school.hk' campaign is available at the department's website www.eatsmart.gov.hk .
Ends/Thursday, April 30, 2009
Issued at HKT 20:45
NNNN
