Secretary for Food & Health Prof Sophia Chan officiated at an event promoting World Breastfeeding Week 2017 today.
The event was held by the Department of Health, the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative Hong Kong Association, the Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF and the Hospital Authority.
Prof Chan said the breastfeeding rate upon hospital discharge in Hong Kong has increased significantly from 18% in 1992 to 87% in 2016, while the exclusive breastfeeding rate among four-month-old babies grew from 19% in 2012 to 31% in 2016.
She attributed the encouraging trend to the implementation of strategies recommended by the Government's Committee on Promotion of Breastfeeding.
A voluntary code has been implemented to promote breastfeeding and ensure proper use of breastmilk substitutes through appropriate marketing based on adequate and unbiased information, she added.
The Government is also working to impose a mandatory requirement for the provision of baby-care facilities and lactation rooms in the sale conditions of new commercial developments on suitable government land sites, she said, noting certain new government premises will also be required to provide such facilities.
Held annually worldwide in the first week of August, this year's World Breastfeeding Week theme is "Sustaining Breastfeeding Together".
