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A territory-wide fitness survey titled "Healthy Exercise for All Campaign-Physical Fitness Test for the Community 2010-11" will soon be launched. People in different age groups will be selected by random sampling to complete questionnaires and take physical fitness tests. The results will enable the participants to learn more about their level of physical fitness and will hopefully encourage them to exercise regularly for better health.
The Chairman of the Community Sports Committee, Mr William Tong, said today (April 12) that the launch of the Test could contribute to the building of a database on the physical fitness of Hong Kong people, and help establish the relationship between physical exercise and physical fitness. Priority areas might then be identified for improvement to enhance Hong Kong people's overall physical condition.
Under the guidance of the Community Sports Committee (CSC), the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) had conducted the first territory-wide physical fitness test in 2005/2006. The second territory-wide Physical Fitness Test for the Community is to be launched to take forward the CSC's recommendation of conducting a territory-wide physical fitness test every five years and to tie in with the National Physical Fitness Surveillance Project implemented on the Mainland. The sampling size of the Test will be about 10,000, and the data collection of the Test is expected to complete by the end of this year. After analysing the data collected, a report on the results of the Test will be announced in the first half of 2012.
The Convener of the Advisory Committee on the Healthy Exercise for All Campaign-Physical Fitness Test for the Community 2010-11, Dr Lo Wing-lok, urged the people selected to participate in the Test, emphasising that this was "a unique test" and different from other health tests commonly available and will not be easily found in the market. The Test will be conducted by physical fitness professionals, who will brief participants on their test results on site and recommend improvement measures for achieving physical fitness.
Schools will be selected by random sampling and participants under the age groups of infants (aged 3 to 6), children (aged 7 to 12), and adolescents (aged 13 to 19) will be drawn to complete questionnaires and conduct tests. Tests for the children group are underway while those for the infants and adolescents groups will be launched soon.
Groups of adults (aged 20 to 59) and seniors (60 to 69) will also be selected randomly from households of the 18 districts basing on the Census and Statistics Department's household data. One adult or senior will be picked from each of the selected households to take part in the Test.
The Assistant Director of Leisure and Cultural Services (Leisure Services), Miss Olivia Chan, pointed out that those households randomly selected will receive letters from the LCSD inviting them for the Test in the coming few days. Starting from April 19, staff of the consultancy firm undertaking the questionnaire survey will visit the selected households. The questionnaire survey will last for 15 to 20 minutes.
After completing the questionnaire, interviewers will invite the participant to take the physical fitness test at one of the designated LCSD venues, which will be open for the Test during different time slots. The Test will last for about 45 minutes. Participants will be presented with souvenirs upon completion of the Test.
Miss Chan called on those being selected to give their full support to the Test programme. The adult and senior group samples are to be selected from households in the territory, and Hong Kong people's active participation is vital for the Test's success.
For details of the "Healthy Exercise for All Campaign-Physical Fitness Test for the Community 2010-11", please call 2601 8809 or visit our dedicated webpage at www.lcsd.gov.hk/healthy.
Ends/Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Issued at HKT 18:27
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