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Hong Kong, 21 February 2025 – The ‘Say Yes To Breastfeeding’ Acknowledgment Ceremony celebrated 10 years of dedicated efforts to foster a breastfeeding-friendly community in Hong Kong. This milestone event highlighted significant achievements in promoting breastfeeding across various sectors.

Since 2015, UNICEF HK has partnered with the Health Bureau and the Department of Health on the ‘Say Yes To Breastfeeding’ Campaign. Ms Judy Chen, Chairman of UNICEF HK, stated in her opening speech, “Over the past 10 years, we have accomplished significant milestones (see appendix). From the mandatory requirement for the provision of babycare facilities and lactation rooms in the sale conditions of government land sale sites for new commercial developments, to extended statutory maternity leaves and the amendment of the Sex Discrimination Ordinance to protect breastfeeding mothers, our city is transforming; but our journey is far from complete. UNICEF HK is dedicated to making Hong Kong more child-friendly, ensuring that every child has a nurturing environment to thrive.” To date, the ‘Say Yes To Breastfeeding’ Campaign has over 2,800 corporates and commercial outlets pledged as Breastfeeding Friendly Premises and Workplaces.

The Acknowledgment Ceremony was graced by the presence of Dr Chuang Shuk Kwan, Consultant Community Medicine (Family and Student Health) of the Department of Health and Dr Rosanna Wong, Director of the Hong Kong Breast Milk Bank, underscoring the importance of multi-sectoral collaboration in supporting breastfeeding mothers.

A discussion section participated by Dr Rosanna Wong, UNICEF HK Council Members Dr Ko Wing Man and Dr Barbara Lam, along with Christine Lam, an Advanced Practice Nurse at the Hong Kong Breast Milk Bank, addressed the challenges and successes of promoting breastfeeding in Hong Kong. Dr Wong remarked that the Hong Kong Breast Milk Bank aims to engage mothers in donations to provide safe and high-quality pasteurised donor breast milk for the preterm and sick babies. This meaningful goal will be achieved through community activities, corporate collaborations, and the provision of additional educational resources and support services designed to help mothers understand the importance of breast milk donation and processes involved.

UNICEF Headquarters research report indicated that improving breastfeeding rates could save over 820,000 children’s lives each year, reducing the burden of childhood illness, and the risk of certain types of cancers and non-communicable diseases for mothers.

Dr Ko urged corporates to support milk donation and emphasized UNICEF HK’s commitment to exploring new ways to help working mothers sustain breastfeeding, setting the foundation for children’s health in their first 7,000 days of life.

Participating corporations were recognized with awards and certificates for their commitment to the ‘Say Yes To Breastfeeding’ Campaign. Representatives of corporate winners from the  Breastfeeding Room Design Competition shared their design concepts and insights during the ceremony. These recognition and competition initiatives of the Campaign are crucial to ensure breastfeeding mothers receive the support they need.

For more information about the ‘Say Yes To Breastfeeding’ Campaign and the Acknowledgment Ceremony, please visit www.sayyestobreastfeeding.hk.

Ms Judy Chen, Chairman of UNICEF HK, stated in her opening speech that UNICEF HK is dedicated to making Hong Kong more child-friendly, ensuring that every child has a nurturing environment to thrive. 

Officiating guests include Ms Judy Chen, Chairman of UNICEF HK (fourth from right); Dr Chuang Shuk Kwan, Consultant Community Medicine (Family and Student Health) of the Department of Health (fourth from left); Dr Rosanna Wong, Director of the Hong Kong Breast Milk Bank (third from right); Dr Ko Wing Man, UNICEF HK Council Member (third from left); Dr Barbara Lam, UNICEF HK Council Member (second from right); Dr Leung Wing Cheong, Vice Chairperson of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative Hong Kong Association (second from left); Fiona Zhuang, Member of the Advocacy Committee of UNICEF HK (first from right); and Christine Lam, an Advanced Practice Nurse at the Hong Kong Breast Milk Bank (first from left).

Officiating guests include Ms Judy Chen, Chairman of UNICEF HK (fourth from right); Dr Chuang Shuk Kwan, Consultant Community Medicine (Family and Student Health) of the Department of Health (fourth from left); Dr Rosanna Wong, Director of the Hong Kong Breast Milk Bank (third from right); Dr Ko Wing Man, UNICEF HK Council Member (third from left); Dr Barbara Lam, UNICEF HK Council Member (second from right); Dr Leung Wing Cheong, Vice Chairperson of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative Hong Kong Association (second from left); Fiona Zhuang, Member of the Advocacy Committee of UNICEF HK (first from right); and Christine Lam, an Advanced Practice Nurse at the Hong Kong Breast Milk Bank (first from left).

Group photo of Ms Judy Chen, Chairman of UNICEF HK (fourth from right); Dr Chuang Shuk Kwan, Consultant Community Medicine (Family and Student Health) of the Department of Health (third from right); Dr Rosanna Wong, Director of the Hong Kong Breast Milk Bank (first from right); Dr Ko Wing Man, UNICEF HK Council Member (second from right); Dr Barbara Lam, UNICEF HK Council Member (fourth from left); Dr Leung Wing Cheong, Vice Chairperson of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative Hong Kong Association (third from left); Fiona Zhuang, Member of the Advocacy Committee of UNICEF HK (second from left); along with Christine Lam, an Advanced Practice Nurse at the Hong Kong Breast Milk Bank (first from left) with other participating guests.

Attachment:

Appendix Table 1 – List of milestones achieved in building a breastfeeding-friendly Hong Kong

Public awareness and support for breastfeeding have significantly increased over the past decade, with the ‘Say Yes To Breastfeeding’ Campaign contributing to various milestones:

2025 – The Hong Kong Breast Milk Bank commenced service.

2024 – The Hospital Authority announced the establishment of Hong Kong's first breast milk bank at the Hong Kong Children's Hospital.

2021 – Amendments to the Sex Discrimination Ordinance were made to protect women in Hong Kong from discrimination and harassment on the grounds of breastfeeding.

2020 – Statutory maternity leave was extended from 10 weeks to 14 weeks.

2017 – The Executive Council decided that a mandatory requirement for the provision of babycare facilities and lactation rooms be imposed in the sale conditions of government land sale sites for new commercial developments comprising office premises and/or retail outlets, eating places, etc.

2017 – The Government launched a code to protect breastfeeding and promote responsible marketing practices for formula milk products.

2016 – Queen Elizabeth Hospital was accredited as Hong Kong’s first Baby-Friendly Hospital.

2015 – UNICEF HK launched the 'Say Yes To Breastfeeding' Campaign to raise public awareness of the needs of breastfeeding mothers.

Appendix 2 - List of recognized companies/organizations (in alphabetical order)

Most Responsive Partners

• BEAUSKIN Medical
• China Everbright Limited
• Hyatt Regency Hong Kong, Sha Tin
• Times Square Limited
• Yang Memorial Methodist Social Service

Breastfeeding-friendly pioneer

• ASMPT Limited
• Ifc mall
• Nan Fung Property Management - MOS Centre
• Nanyang Commercial Bank, Limited

Effective Outreach Partners

• Harbour City Estates Limited
• Nan Fung Property Management
• Shanghai Commercial Bank Limited
• Sino Group
• Steve Leung Designers Limited
• The Kowloon Hotel
• com Limited

Appendix Table 3: List of corporates newly pledged as Breastfeeding Friendly Premises or Workplaces in 2024/2025 (in alphabetical order)

 Breastfeeding Friendly Premises

Gold Label

• AEON Credit Service (Asia) Co., Ltd.
• Foodgears Industrial International Limited
• Hutchison Property Management Company Limited - Cheung Kong Center II
• MegaBox Management Services Ltd
• Silvermine Beach Resort Limited
• Sino Estates Management Limited - One North
• The Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel Hong Kong

Blue Label

• AttachMum Limited
• China-Hongkong Photo Products Holdings Limited
• Gold Coast Yacht & Country Club
• Landmark North
• Nan Fung Property Management - No.8 Wyndham Street
• Nan Fung Property Management - On Lan Centre
• Sino Estates Management Limited - On Serenity Park
• Sino Estates Management Limited - Waterside Plaza

Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace

• AEON Credit Service (Asia) Co., Ltd.
• AKI Hong Kong Mgallery
• China-Hongkong Photo Products Holdings Limited
• Exchange Tower
• Foodgears Industrial International Limited
• Gold Coast Yacht & Country Club
• Hutchison Property Management Company Limited - Cheung Kong Center II
• Landmark North
• MegaBox Management Services Ltd
• Meiriki Japan Company Limited
• Monoo Interior Limited
• Nan Fung Property Management - 33 Des Voeux Road West
• Nan Fung Property Management - 8 Deep Water Bay Drive
• Nan Fung Property Management - No.8 Wyndham Street
• Nan Fung Property Management - On Lan Centre
• Nan Fung Property Management - Shiu Fung Building
• Nanyang Commercial Bank, Limited
• Novotel Century Hong Kong
• RGA (Reinsurance Group America)
• Silvermine Beach Resort Limited
• Sino Estates Management Limited - Futura Plaza
• Sino Estates Management Limited - On Serenity Park
• Sino Estates Management Limited - One North
• Sino Estates Management Limited - Pan Asia Centre
• Sino Estates Management Limited - Waterside Plaza
• Sino Estates Management Limited - Westin Centre
• Sino Estates Management Limited - Fullerton Centre
• Sino Estates Management Limited - Remington Centre
• Sino Estates Management Limited - Westley Square
• The Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel Hong Kong