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© UNICEF HK/2018

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, attended the Tuen Mun Park Inclusive Playground Opening Ceremony. The Deputy Director of Leisure and Cultural Services (Leisure Services), Ms Ida Lee; the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah; the Director of Architectural Services, Mrs Sylvia Lam; the Chairman of the Tuen Mun District Council, Mr Leung Kin-man; Chairman of Advocacy & Public Relations Committee, UNICEF HK, Miss Au King-chi and other guests officiating at the opening ceremony of the inclusive playground in Tuen Mun Park with other guests.

HONG KONG, 19 December 2018 — UNICEF HK welcomes a new inclusive playground at Tuen Mun Park which was officially opened on 17 December 2018 with the presence of Mr. Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, Chief Secretary for Administration, HKSAR, Mr. Lau Kong-wah, Secretary for Home Affairs, HKSAR, Mrs Sylvia Lam, Director of Architectural Services, HKSAR, Ms Ida Lee, Deputy Director of Leisure and Cultural Services (Leisure Services), HKSAR, Mr. Leung Kin-man, Chairman of the Tuen Mun District Council, Dr. Chow Chun-bong, Chairperson of the Executive Committee of Playright Children’s Play Association, Miss Au King-chi, Chairman of Advocacy & Public Relations Committee, UNICEF HK, Mr. Paul Chan, Council Member of Hong Kong Institute of Landscape Architects, and Mrs Daisy Chen, Treasurer of the Advisory Committee of the Chen Yet-Sen Family Foundation. Children of different ages and abilities can play together in a harmonious and happy environment there with diversified inclusive play facilities.

The inclusive playground adopted winning designs of ‘UNICEF Inclusive Play Space Design Ideas Competition’ organized by UNICEF HK, Playright Children’s Play Association (Playright), and the Hong Kong Institute of Landscape Architect in 2015. The design has taken into account a wide range of children’s physical and psychological abilities, children at different ages and of different body, to create a truly inclusive environment.  UNICEF HK is pleased that the Government will continue to inject inclusive design elements into building children’s playgrounds in Hong Kong.

Play is an important part of a child’s social, physical, intellectual, creative, and emotional development and it helps to unlock the full potential of children.  UNICEF HK has been actively promoting ‘1 hour free play a day’ to enable children’s healthy development.  To facilitate the realization of children’s right to play, since 2012, UNICEF HK has been collaborating with Playright through its Child Rights Advocacy Project to advocate for ‘inclusive play’, so that children of different abilities can have access to quality play and enjoy the same play experience.  Through this collaboration, a study assessing the conditions of local inclusive playgrounds and the experience and needs of children with disabilities playing in playground was conducted, and the first ever internationally recognized Inclusive Play Space Design Guidelines applicable to Hong Kong was published. With aids of the Guidelines, society could grasp a more concrete understanding on “Inclusive Play” and helps in popularizing the idea. Thus, the equal right to play enjoyed by every child could be ensured.

The opening of the Inclusive Playground in Tuen Mun marked a significant milestone of this five-year journey, with results made possible by the shared commitment of all collaborating parties. UNICEF HK is proud to be a contributing part of this exciting initiative, demonstrating the value of play to children’s development.

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