Policy and measures that promotes breastfeeding

1. The Food and Health Bureau (FHB) has set up the Committee on Promotion of Breastfeeding (the Committee) in April 2014 to enhance the sustainability of breastfeeding and promote breastfeeding as a norm for infant feeding widely accepted by the general public. The Government promotes and supports breastfeeding in support of the Committee’s work through strengthening publicity and education on breastfeeding; encouraging adoption of Breastfeeding Friendly Workplaces Policy to support working mothers to continue breastfeeding after returning to work; promoting breastfeeding in public places through promotion of breastfeeding friendly premises and provision of babycare facilities; implementing the Hong Kong Code of Marketing of Formula Milk and Related Products, and Food Products for Infants & Young Children; and strengthening the surveillance on local breastfeeding situation.
2. Healthcare professionals of Maternal and Child Health Centres (MCHCs) provide information on breastfeeding for expectant parents during antenatal sessions through individual counselling, group discussions and distribution of educational materials, and provide guidance and skill support for breastfeeding mothers. A breastfeeding hotline is operated to provide professional advice to mothers with lactation problems. Regular publicity activities to promulgate key health messages of breastfeeding were conducted via various means including organising celebrating event to echo World Breastfeeding Week, poster and media campaigns.
3. Since August 2013, all the eight public hospitals with maternity wards under the HA have implemented the “Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative” which aims to remove the various factors that impede breastfeeding in medical institutions such as hospitals, clinics and maternal and child centres and to support more mothers to breastfeed their babies consistently through the services and counselling provided.