Transcript of remarks by SFH at media session
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​Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, after attending a radio programme today (May 29):
Reporter: A developer is offering a flat for lucky draw by people who have been vaccinated and people seem to be quite excited about it and more people made appointment yesterday. What do you think of it and would you encourage other businesses to do the same and offer incentives?
Secretary for Food and Health: Vaccination is in fact a very important intervention, not only in Hong Kong but also globally, to control and prevent the current epidemic situation. This is really something we should focus on, especially at this stage of our epidemic situation. It seems that from a number of surveys, there are people who are in the process of wait-and-see, that is they are probably contemplating whether they are going to get vaccinated or not, and haven't taken any action. In this regard, any intervention that is able to motivate people, the Government actually welcomes. So for example this lucky draw or any other intervention or incentives that would be able to motivate people to get vaccinated, it is important to change any health behaviour because in the theory of changing health behaviour, we need to look at how to target people who are in the stages of pre-contemplation, contemplation or preparation. For those who are taking action, they are fine. But for all those who are in these different stages, we need to do more in order to help them take and move towards action. Obviously, one of the intervention is to provide transparent information and publicity events so that people understand. But that is not enough, we do need other incentives in order to move people to think about vaccination. The next step is not only about thinking but actually taking action. So these intervention and incentives by more corporations and all the employers are actually welcome. I think the more people do, the better it will be, so that everybody in Hong Kong is moving towards a higher target of vaccinating at a higher rate to protect the public. Thank you.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Saturday, May 29, 2021
Issued at HKT 10:46
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