The Department of Health is committed to promoting breastfeeding by implementing a sustained breastfeeding policy for breastfeeding mothers in all its maternal and child health centres and workplaces.

The department's Senior Medical Officer Dr Rachel Cheng made the pledge at a press conference today marking 2010 World Breastfeeding Week. The theme this year is "Breastfeeding: Just 10 steps! The baby-friendly way".

"The policy can facilitate creating a supportive environment in [these centres] to ensure a uniform practice among staff members in promoting breastfeeding and encouraging postnatal staff members to continue breastfeeding after resuming duty," she said.

The department's regular breastfeeding surveys showed the ever breastfeeding rate - mothers with a history of breastfeeding - has risen from 50% for babies born in 1997 to 74% for babies born in 2008.

The exclusive breastfeeding rate - those with no supplementary food - for babies four to six months old also rose from 6% to 13% for the same cohorts.

Dr Cheng said there is still room for improvement, compared with the higher rates reported in some countries.

The department has formed a task force to develop and promote the Hong Kong Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes last month, to protect breastfeeding and ensure proper use of breastmilk substitutes through marketing practices.