Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, at the BOCHK Bauhinia Bowl Award Prize Presentation Ceremony today (July 7):

Mrs Stella Lau (Chairlady of the Hong Kong Schools Sports Federation, Mrs Stella Lau Kun Lai-kuen), Ms Choi (Prinicpal, Shun Tak Fraternal Association Cheng Yu Tung Secondary School, Ms Choi Yuk-ping), Ms Wong (Chief Curriculum Development Officer (Physical Education), Education Bureau, Ms Nancy Wong Lan-sum), principals, parents, teachers and students, distinguished guests,

     Good afternoon. It gives me great pleasure to join you at the prize presentation ceremony of this prestigious sports award to recognise and celebrate the sporting excellence of the schools and student athletes in the Hong Kong Island and Kowloon Secondary Schools Region. Since its introduction in 1965, the award has been recognised as the most prestigious in all-round sport achievements by schools and individual students.

     It is always nice to have young people around. Apart from feeling younger, I like in particular to share the joy, energy and spirit characteristic of youth. Gathering here today are outstanding students who have achieved excellence in sports. Standing by their side are parents who always support their children with selfless love, and teachers who are dedicated to nurturing these young talents and guiding them on their way. I am grateful to the Hong Kong Schools Sports Federation for staging this event to celebrate such wonderful positive energy of our society.

     The HKSAR Government is committed to building a caring, compassionate and inclusive community. Sports, indeed, are powerful tools to improve physical and mental health, reinforce positive values and strengthen social inclusion. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, engagement in quality physical education is one of the entry points necessary for students' lifelong participation in physical activities and sports and in society at large.

     Promoting "MVPA60" is one of the focuses in the recent update of our Physical Education Key Learning Area Curriculum Guide 2017. What is "MVPA60"? It means "at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity". In a 2014 report of the World Health Organization, "physical inactivity" has been identified as a major global health concern as it affects the fundamental health condition of our students. To address the problem, children and youths aged 5 to 17 are recommended to carry out "MVPA60" daily. It may sound demanding but it is in fact not that difficult. "MVPA60" can easily be incorporated into our daily life. Currently, students are provided with regular physical education lessons at school. On top of that, they are encouraged to engage in other physical activities outside school hours, such as going for regular walks, jogging, swimming or playing badminton, tennis, soccer, basketball or volleyball games and more.

     The Government attaches great importance to promoting sports development in Hong Kong. We have earmarked in this year's government budget HK$20 billion for 26 sports and recreational facilities projects in the coming five years in different districts to encourage community-wide participation in sports. We are also pressing ahead with the development of the Kai Tak Sports Park at the former Kai Tak Airport which will spread across about 28 hectares of land with key sports facilities including a 50 000-seat main stadium, a 5 000-seat public sports ground, a multi-purpose indoor sports centre with playing surface of 30 standard badminton courts and a landscaped park of more than 7 hectares for the public to relax or enjoy outdoor exercise.

     Certainly, the Government's effort alone in promoting an active and healthy lifestyle in our community is not enough. This is why we promote cross-sectoral collaboration among the Government, businesses and schools. The Bauhinia Bowl Award organised for student athletes and sponsored by the Bank of China (Hong Kong) (BOCHK) is a good example of this kind of collaboration. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the BOCHK and all participating schools for making this meaningful award scheme a continuing success throughout the years.

     On this note, I would like to congratulate this year's awardees and their family members. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is a lifelong commitment. Let us all keep up the good work. I wish you all an enjoyable afternoon and good health. Thank you very much.

Ends/Friday, July 7, 2017
Issued at HKT 18:25

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