********************************************
Following is a question by the Hon Lee Wing-tat and a written reply by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today (May 13):
Question:
Although the Government has all along pledged support for breastfeeding of babies, among the public accessible government premises as at April 22, 2009, most of those which have babycare rooms are maternal and child health centres and hospitals. Among the Government Offices in Hong Kong, only a total of three babycare rooms are provided in the Central Government Offices and Sha Tin Government Offices, and other government premises have very few babycare rooms. In this connection, will the Executive Authorities inform this Council whether:
(a) the babycare and breastfeeding facilities in Government Offices and other government premises comply with the Advisory Guidelines on Babycare Facilities; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that and whether improvement schemes have been drawn up;
(b) they had received complaints from the public in the past five years that there were not enough babycare rooms in government premises; if they had, of the details;
(c) any member of the public had, in past five years, requested the managers of government premises without babycare rooms to provide them with rooms for breastfeeding; if so, of the number of such cases, and whether the venues so provided complied with the specifications recommended in the aforesaid guidelines; and
(d) more babycare rooms will be provided in Government Offices and other government premises (e.g. libraries and museums); if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
We are grateful for the question raised by Hon Lee Wing-tat.
(a) The Government announced in August 2008 that it has made available the Advisory Guidelines on Babycare Facilities (Guidelines) for reference by all government departments and public organisations. As at April 2009, there are approximately 120 babycare rooms in government premises, including eight babycare rooms in six government offices buildings. The babycare rooms in government premises are generally in compliance with the Guidelines, with a few exceptions due to construction constraints. Subject to feasibility, the departments concerned will make improvements according to the Guidelines at an appropriate juncture. For example, during refurbishment of the Hong Kong Coliseum and the Queen Elizabeth Stadium last year, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) had provided a babycare room in each of these premises in accordance with the Guidelines.
We believe that the Guidelines will facilitate the provision of appropriate babycare rooms by government departments and public organisations. As at April 2009, there was an increase of nine babycare rooms in government premises over the figure last released in October 2008. Apart from the addition of babycare rooms in hospitals and clinics under the Hospital Authority, two more babycare rooms have been provided in LCSD venues. All new babycare rooms are equipped with facilities as recommended in the Guidelines.
(b) There is no record of complaints from the public about insufficient babycare rooms in government premises in the past five years.
The Bureau has however received proposals of setting up more babycare rooms from non-government organisations. In 2006, the Bureau also received a letter from a periodical suggesting that babycare facilities should be included as essential amenities in public places. In addition, the LCSD has received two letters in the past five years suggesting provision of babycare facilities in recreation venues and libraries respectively, and two proposals on provision of babycare rooms in the Hong Kong Science Museum and Nan Lian Garden. The LCSD has already taken follow-up action to provide babycare rooms in these venues.
(c) There is no record of public requests for the provision of rooms for breastfeeding received by managers of government premises without babycare rooms in the past five years.
(d) In the coming few years, a minimum of 50 new babycare rooms will be provided in government premises, including some 30 babycare rooms which are expected to be provided in the new LCSD projects under planning, about 10 in existing LCSD venues (libraries and other leisure and cultural facilities), and four additional babycare rooms to be provided in government offices buildings. The distribution of these new babycare rooms is at the Annex.
Ends/Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Issued at HKT 12:49
NNNN
