The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, today (March 22) chaired the 20th meeting of the Commission on Children.

     At the meeting, members were briefed by government representatives on the measures taken to foster a sporting culture among children and future work direction. The Government had early on collected data on the physical fitness of Hong Kong citizens (including children aged between 7 and 16) under the Territory-wide Physical Fitness Survey for the Community to understand their latest physical fitness conditions. The survey results provide benchmarking data for the Government to develop community-based sports training courses and recreational activities and plan public play spaces for fostering the sporting culture among children.

     The Education Bureau will continue to strengthen students' physical development through the sports curriculum and physical activities within and beyond the classroom holistically. The Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, together with the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, will continue to promote a sports culture by organising a wide range of school-based and community-level sports activities. Members welcomed the various measures implemented by the Government and hoped that they could reinforce children's interest in sports and improve their physical fitness.

     Also, members were briefed by government representatives on the proposed arrangements of expanding the scope of the Sexual Conviction Record Check Scheme to further strengthen the protection of children and mentally incapacitated persons. Considering the recommendations made by the Review of Sexual Offences Sub-committee under the Law Reform Commission, the Government consulted members on expanding the scope of the Scheme in phases to cover existing employees, self-employed persons and volunteers.

     The Government will actively expedite the enhancement of the Scheme while ensuring that there is sufficient capacity to process applications made under the Scheme, thereby further reducing the risks of children and mentally incapacitated persons being sexually abused.

Ends/Friday, March 22, 2024
Issued at HKT 18:00

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