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Some 200 volunteers today (August 18) pledged to support and participate in voluntary activities of the Clean Hong Kong Campaign in the presence of the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Henry Tang.
In the next few months, they will join some 2,000 other volunteers in the territory to visit different districts to help singleton elderly clean their homes; encourage citizens to pay attention to personal, home and environmental hygiene; and promote the message of maintaining good hygiene to fight against flu.
Speaking at the launch ceremony cum seminar of "Get Moving! Volunteers Support Clean Hong Kong Campaign", Mr Tang said voluntary activities were an important part of the whole campaign and they helped the disadvantaged to stay alert to diseases.
He said, "Through this campaign, we aim to mobilise the participation of the community in keeping the city clean. Though the government is duty bound to keep the city clean, we cannot rely on the government alone to combat the influx of infectious diseases. Every sector in the society and every citizen has to enhance their hygiene awareness and regard disease prevention as a long-lasting fight."
Following on the territory-wide Clean Hong Kong Day on May 10, the 18 District Offices, together with District Councils, Clean Hong Kong District Committees, district bodies and relevant government departments organised a series of activities to promote hygiene and help people with special needs to do the clean-ups.
Mr Tang thanked the participating organisations and volunteers for their contribution to the promotion of hygiene in the community. He said, "With everyone making a little more effort, our fortress against diseases will be more strengthened."
The Director of Home Affairs, Mrs Pamela Tan, said the series of "Clean Hong Kong Campaign" activities was aimed at drawing more people to take part in the campaign. Apart from health talks and roving exhibitions, there were also activities targeting different people, such as home visits to low-income families and singleton elderly as well as day camps for primary school pupils.
The launch ceremony cum seminar of "Get Moving! Volunteers Support Clean Hong Kong Campaign" was organised by the Home Affairs Department with the support of the Hong Kong Federation of Women, Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, Hong Kong Society for the Aged, Hong Kong United Youth Association and Hong Kong Women Development Association, which mobilised the volunteers. The activity aimed to pool social resources to further remind citizens to maintain personal, home and environmental hygiene to prevent the spread of diseases.
Ends/Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Issued at HKT 17:20
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