Media

The First "Breaking the taboo of Death" Life and Death Education Campaign in Hong Kong

28 May 2007

by Centre on Behavioral Health, The University of Hong Kong
Funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club

Centre on Behavioral Health of Faculty of Social Sciences, The University of Hong Kong will present the Launching Ceremony of the Empowerment Network for Adjustment to Bereavement and Loss in End-of-life (ENABLE) project on May 30, 2007 (Wednesday).

Dr. York Chow, Secretary of Health, Welfare and Food Bureau, Government of the Hong Kong Special Administration Region, Mr. Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Jockey Club and Professor Lap-Chee Tsui, Vice-Chancellor and President of The University of Hong Kong are the officiating guests for the Launching Ceremony. Representatives from over 30 social welfare organisations will participate in the signing ceremony of ENABLE Alliance. Mr. Eric Tat Ming Cheung, Assistant Professor of the Faculty of Law, will share his bereavement experience of accompanying his wife through her last life journey and how his family copes with life without their loved one.

Media representatives are cordially invited to attend the Ceremony with details as below:

Date: May 30, 2007 (Wednesday)
Time: 2:30p.m. – 4:00p.m.
Venue: Li Ka Shing Lecture Theatre 4, William M.W. Mong Block, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine Building, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, HK

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust has donated more than HK$20M in the establishment of this 3.5-year "ENABLE" project in view of the lack of pre-death care in Hong Kong. Death for Chinese people is a taboo, yet it is one of the four cardinal life events "Birth, aging, illness, and death" that everyone will have to face. While there are prenatal classes to prepare for the birth of a baby; retirement plan to prepare for old age; and medical insurance plan for the preparation of illness; but there are no pre-death classes for preparing one's death.

"ENABLE" project has commenced in November, 2006 and aims to:
1) Promote public awareness on death, dying and bereavement;
2) Facilitate the elderly population, people with chronic and terminal illnesses as well as their families members in preparing for death, dying and bereavement; and
3) Develop overall competence of professionals in supporting dying patients and bereaved persons.

For enquiries, please contact Miss Michelle Chow, Faculty of Social Sciences (tel.: 2241 5917 / email: chowmmc@hkucc.hku.hk)。).