DH to launch Outreach Oral Health Programme for Pre-school Children on September 1 to provide free oral health services to all kindergarten students on campus
The Department of Health (DH) announced today (August 24) that a new “Outreach Oral Health Programme for Pre-school Children (OOHP)” will be launched on September 1. Professional dental teams from service providers designated by the Government will visit kindergartens to provide students with free oral screening and preventive dental care on campus. The DH called on kindergartens and parents across Hong Kong to actively participate in the OOHP, working together to help children nurture good oral hygiene habits from an early age.
Children aged 32 months or older who are studying in participating kindergartens are eligible to receive the service free of charge through the OOHP. Eligible students may receive the service once a year. It is estimated that tens of thousands of children and their parents will benefit from the OOHP.
Designated service providers will send professional dental teams to kindergartens to provide participating students with free outreach oral screenings, oral health risk assessments and fluoride application as appropriate to prevent or control tooth decay. The teams will also provide parents with a report on their child’s oral health and individualised oral care advice. Additionally, the professional dental teams will conduct oral health talks for kindergarten teaching staff to help them convey oral care messages to the children more effectively, thereby helping them nurture good daily habits from an early age.
The OOHP is a school-based initiative. Service providers will proactively contact the kindergartens to introduce the programme and arrange dates for outreach services. Parents only need to apply for the OOHP through their child’s kindergarten. Parents may inquire directly at their child’s kindergarten if they have any questions.
A total of 23 service providers are participating in the OOHP, covering all 18 districts in Hong Kong. The service providers began contacting kindergartens in June to finalise the dates for outreach services in the new school year. As of mid-August, 680 (over 70 per cent) of 949 kindergartens in Hong Kong have participated in the OOHP. Kindergartens interested in participating in the OOHP may contact the DH (email: am3_cds@dh.gov.hk).
Since June 2023, the DH’s Brighter Smiles Baby Programme (Baby Programme) has served young children aged 0 to 3. The Baby Programme provides primary oral healthcare services for the prevention of dental diseases in young children and offers education to parents. From April 2025, the Baby Programme has been expanded in phases to include young children aged 0 to 3 using the services of the DH’s Maternal and Child Health Centres. The introduction of the OOHP helps bridge the Baby Programme and the School Dental Care Service that covers all local primary school students. Together, these three initiatives provide continuous and seamless oral healthcare support for children all the way from pre-school through the school-age stages, creating a comprehensive safety net for their oral health.
The Government’s oral health policies aim to enable all Hong Kong citizens to improve their oral hygiene habits and lifestyles. By adopting the strategies of developing community-wide preventive primary oral healthcare while providing essential dental care services targeting underprivileged groups, the Government strives to help citizens achieve prevention, early identification and timely intervention in tackling dental diseases.
DH to launch Outreach Oral Health Programme for Pre-school Children on September 1 to provide free oral health services to all kindergarten students on campus Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
HKMCA Introduces Cross-Boundary Annuity Disbursement Service
The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
HKMC Annuity Limited (HKMCA), a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation Limited, announced today (August 24) that, with immediate effect, customers of the HKMCA may choose to receive their guaranteed monthly annuity payments across the boundary via eligible Renminbi (RMB) bank accounts opened on the Chinese Mainland (Note 1).
Upon completion of the HKMCA’s required application procedures, the HKMCA’s servicing bank will convert the Hong Kong dollar-denominated guaranteed monthly annuity payments into RMB, and remit the funds via Payment Connect (Note 2) to the customers’ eligible RMB bank accounts opened on the Chinese Mainland. The actual RMB amount deposited into the customers’ eligible RMB bank accounts opened on the Chinese Mainland will be determined based on the prevailing exchange rate applied by the servicing bank at the time of the transaction (Note 3). The HKMCA will not levy any charges for this service.
Executive Director and the Chief Executive Officer of the HKMCA, Mr Daniel Leong, stated, “As more Hong Kong residents choose to retire on the Chinese Mainland, demand for seamless cross-boundary payment to support daily living expenses continues to grow. Leveraging Payment Connect, we are pleased to introduce this new cross-boundary annuity disbursement service. Customers can conveniently receive their guaranteed annuity payments to meet daily spending needs in the Chinese Mainland, enjoying hassle-free cross-boundary retirement.”
For details on the application procedures for the cross-boundary annuity disbursement service, please contact the HKMCA customer service hotline at (852) 2512 5000.
Note 1: For details of eligible RMB bank accounts and the relevant application requirements, please contact the HKMCA customer service hotline at (852) 2512 5000.
Note 2: Payment Connect refers to the linkage of the Chinese Mainland’s Internet Banking Payment System (IBPS) and Hong Kong’s Faster Payment System (FPS). For further information, please refer to the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s website.
Note 3: Exchange rates are subject to market fluctuations, and the final RMB amount deposited into the customers’ RMB bank accounts on the Chinese Mainland may differ from any estimations or expectations. Please be aware of all risks associated with currency conversion and exchange rate movements. Any related fees and exchange rate differentials arising from the remittance shall be borne by the customers. For details, please refer to the relevant terms and conditions, risk disclosures and disclaimers.
Source: AI-found images