SFH visits Tsuen Wan District (with photos)

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     The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, visited Tsuen Wan District today (May 2) to gain a deeper understanding on the healthcare and proposed public columbarium facilities in the district, and also meet with members of the Tsuen Wan District Council (TWDC).

     Accompanied by the Chairman of the TWDC, Mr Chung Wai-ping; the Vice Chairman of the TWDC, Mr Wong Wai-kit; and the District Officer (Tsuen Wan), Miss Jenny Yip, Professor Chan first arrived at Sham Shui Kok Drive to receive a briefing by staff of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) on the latest situation of the proposed columbarium and transport infrastructure in the vicinity. It is planned that the new columbarium will provide some 26 000 niches.

     Professor Chan said, "The Government is striving to increase the supply of public niches. Through implementing the district-based columbarium development scheme, the responsibility for developing columbarium facilities is shared by the 18 districts in the territory. We have so far secured support from the District Councils for 14 identified sites, providing about 590 000 new niches.

     "In order to develop columbarium facilities in a sustainable way and optimise the use of land resources, we propose to introduce, starting from the next allocation exercise, an extendable arrangement for new allocation of public niches to expedite the circulation, i.e. an initial interment period of 20 years, followed by extension every 10 years. We will finish the consultation exercise with District Councils on the proposed adoption of extendable niches in the second quarter of this year."

     Professor Chan stressed that based on the concept of sustainable development, the Government will simultaneously continue to actively promote green burial, including scattering ashes in Gardens of Remembrance or at sea. The FEHD will also continue to strengthen co-operation with non-government organisations providing hospice services.

     Professor Chan also inspected Lady Trench General Out-patient Clinic to understand the out-patient service needs in the district and the future development of the clinic.

     Later in the day, Professor Chan met with TWDC members to listen to their views on matters related to environmental hygiene and healthcare services in the district.

Ends/Wednesday, May 2, 2018
Issued at HKT 18:35

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The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan (second right), and the Under Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Tsui Tak-yi (second left), visited Tsuen Wan District today (May 2). Photo shows Professor Chan and Dr Tsui, accompanied by the Vice Chairman of the Tsuen Wan District Council, Mr Wong Wai-kit (third left), and the District Officer (Tsuen Wan), Miss Jenny Yip (first left), receiving a briefing at Sham Shui Kok Drive by staff of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department on the latest situation of the proposed columbarium and the transport infrastructure in the vicinity.

The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan (centre), today (May 2) inspects Lady Trench General Out-patient Clinic to understand the out-patient service needs in the district and the future development of the clinic.

The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan (second right), today (May 2) inspects the Tsuen Wan Elderly Health Centre located at Lady Trench General Out-patient Clinic. Looking on are the Under Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Tsui Tak-yi (second left); the Chairman of the Tsuen Wan District Council (TWDC), Mr Chung Wai-ping (third left); and the Vice Chairman of the TWDC, Mr Wong Wai-kit (fourth left).

The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan (fourth right), today (May 2) meets with Tsuen Wan District Council members to listen to their views on matters related to environmental hygiene and healthcare services in the district.