新聞稿：香港規劃師學會與醫護行者呼籲解決油旺社區迫在眉睫的健康及安全問題 / Press Release: HKIP and HIA Pledged for Urgent Improvements to Safety and Health Issues facing Yau Mong District

今日，香港規劃師學會健康城市專責組與醫護行者聯合發表了一份建議報告，提出土地規劃及相關社區營造建議，以解決油旺社區迫在眉睫的健康及安全問題。 我們期待社區的回應和支持，願從今天開始，我們攜手共同建設一個更健康、更安全的油旺社區。

Today, the Healthy City Taskforce of The Hong Kong Institute of Planners (HKIP) and Health In Action (HIA) jointly release the final report recommending land use planning and community building proposals addressing the imminent safety and health issues in Yau Mong District. We invite support from the Government and the society, thus together building a healthier and safer Yau Mong District, starting right from today.

 

為了回應疫情後的社會期望和需要，於 2021 年，香港規劃師學會成立健康城市專責組，致力探討建設一個更健康的香港的規劃建議。2022 年，醫護行者加入成為聯合主辦機構，提供了醫療保健方面的專業知識，共同在油旺區推廣建康城市倡議。此外，我們的顧問，香港中文大學公共衛生及基層醫療榮休教授李大拔教授提供了寶貴建議和指導。在社區參與方面，救世軍、香港基督教服務處、香港健康促進及教育協會是支持機構，一直密切參與了整個研究過程。

The HKIP set up Healthy City Taskforce since 2020 to exploring planning solutions for building a healthy Hong Kong, amid the then Covid pandemic. In 2022, HIA with their expertise in health issues joined in, thus together we take forward this initiative in Yau Mong District. Professor Albert Lee, Professor Emeritus of CUHK Public Health and Primary Care,is our advisor giving invaluable advice and steer to the project.  On engagement at the community level, NGOs, in particular The Salvation Army, Hong Kong Christian Service, the Hong Kong Health Education and Health Promotion Foundation are supporting organizations of this project.  They are closely involved in the study process.


研究結果重點 Key Research Findings

總的來說，油旺區環境（包括生活、公共和步行空間）與社區面臨的健康風險有密切關係。這些不合乎標準的社區環境，尤其是狹窄行人路直接影響著市民的身心健康和社區幸福感。我們發現行動不便的老人家很擔心在路上會人撞倒，因而盡量不上街，這加劇他門的身體及精神健康問題。 並且根據我們對運輸署數據的分析，發現油旺區涉及行人的交通意外數量是九個市區分區最多的，而老人家特別容易受交通意外影響，這情況很值得我們關注。

Overall, the Yau Mong environment (including living, public and pedestrian spaces) is closely related to the health risks faced by the community. These substandard community environments, especially narrow pavements, have a direct impact on the physical and mental health of citizens and the well-being of the community. We found that elderly people with reduced mobility were worried about being hit by people on the road and therefore tried not to go to the street, which exacerbated their physical and mental health problems. According to our analysis of the Transport Department's data, we found that Yau Mong District had the highest number of traffic accidents involving pedestrians among the nine urban districts, and the elderly were particularly vulnerable to traffic accidents.


不合乎標準的社區環境固然不利於建立健康生活。特別是缺乏運動必然對身體健康有直接的不良影響；而缺乏社區營造活動亦會影響精神健康和社區幸福感。

This sub-standard built environment is not conducive to healthy living. In particular, lack of physical exercise has a direct adverse impact on physical health; and lack of social and community activities affects the mental health and community wellbeing.


在研究的外展過程中，我們接觸了當地群體包括老年人和少數族裔，並進行了問卷調查。結果顯示了社區中大多數受訪者接受自己的健康現況並感到滿意，但卻明顯地對他們所處的社區環境不滿意。我們在 2024年7月20 日發表報告草擬本，並在2024 年 10 月舉行社區論壇，收集大眾意見並進一步完善我們的建議。此外，在2024 年 11 月2日，我們在油麻地臨時封閉一段鴉打街，推行社區步行徑體驗日，這大為擴闊行人路範圍，並提供空間進行活動。這活動旨在提高大家對健康城市的認識，增強社區營造，以建設一個健康安全的油旺區，這個社會實驗十分成功。時至今日，我們採納社區的意見，並發佈最終報告，希望以此作為推動油旺健康行動計劃的基礎。我們建議需要同時從兩方面作出改善：一方面改善社區環境，另一方面進行社區營造，以建設健康社區。

During the study process, we reached out to various local groups, including elderly and minorities, and also conducted a questionnaire survey. One critical finding reveals that the majority of respondents in the community are satisfied with their own health conditions, but certainly not with the physical and community environment. The result confirms the need for district improvement on two fronts: enhancing physical built environment as well as community activities/services/education for promoting healthy life. On 20 July 2024, we issued a draft final report and subsequently in October 2024 we conducted a community forum to solicit public views.  On 2 November 2024, we conducted a social experiment of converting a section of a road carriageway with several metered parking spaces on Arthur Street, just north of Yau Ma Tei Tin Hau Temple, to public spaces for pedestrians and community activities. The social experiment was very successful and it not only raised awareness of the need to improve walkability, but also contributed to community making.

社區論壇 Community Forum

油麻地健康步行徑體驗日: 封閉鴉打街作行人優先街區
Yau Ma Tei Healthy Walking Trail Experience Day: Closure of Arthur Street as Pedestrian Zone


在社區裡自由步行是市民最基本的權利，步行也是最簡易可行的運動。我們應該通過改善街道環境，鼓勵市民日常多步行，從而實踐健康生活及促進精神健康。同時也要確保社區能夠有足夠的基本醫療服務和社區服務配套，才能建立一個共融、公平和充滿關懷的社區。

Walking freely in the local community is the most basic form of exercise and rights of citizens. We should promote walking for healthy living, mental wellness, as well as access to primary health care and community services through improving the local street environment to build an inclusive, equitable and caring community.


主要建議 Key Proposals

我們提出短期到長期的建議，旨在提高可步行性和社區連接性，提倡靈活多用途的公共空間，以建立一個健康安全的油旺社區：

Accordingly, we propose the following short to long term proposals, comprising enhancements both on physical and community environment, to build a healthy Yau Mong District:

1.         短期提高社區對步行、行人街道安全及暢通、暢達公共空間重要性的認知，並倡議改善行人街道的可步行性和安全性措施。
In the short term, raising community awareness of the importance of safe and accessible public spaces and footpaths for pedestrians, and advocating for improved walkability and safety measures.

2.         短期促進社區深入瞭解支援市民身心健康的服務需要，並加強社區建設。
In the short term, promoting community understanding of the service needs to support the physical and mental health, and strengthening community building.

3.         短期減少路邊泊車位，將有關空間改為行人道，以改善街道環境，並長期陸續推廣。
In the short term, establishing and promoting healthy walking trails in suitable locations, such as Yau Ma Tei District, and on a long-term basis extending to Jordan and Mong Kok districts.


4.         短期將某些橫街窄巷，例如鴉打街臨近天后廟的一段，改為行人專用區，並長期陸續推廣。
In the short term, enhance community building by cooperating with local social organizations and NGOs to provide health-related activities and services, and continuing such activities in the long term.


5.         短期在適合地點建立及推廣健康步行徑，例如油麻地區，長期推廣至佐敦區及旺角區。
In the short term, establishing and promoting healthy walking trails in suitable locations, such as Yau Ma Tei District, and on a long-term basis extending to Jordan and Mong Kok districts.


6.         短期增強社區營造，與當地社福機構及非政府組織合作，提供健康相關的活動和服務，並長期陸續推廣。
In the short term, enhance community building by cooperating with local social organizations and NGOs to provide health-related activities and services, and continuing such activities in the long term


7.         短期靈活運用公共空間和行人路作多用途空間，提供健康和社區服務，並長期陸續推廣。
In the short term, implementing flexible use of public spaces and pavements as multi-purpose spaces to provide health and community services, and promoting such uses in the long term.


8.         短期加快改善眾多小型和分散的公共休憩空間，為運動、社交聚會、遊戲和休憩提供全面的休憩空間網路，並長期陸續推廣。
In the short term, expediting the improvement of the many small and scattered public open spaces to provide a comprehensive network of open spaces for sports, social gatherings, games and recreation, and promoting them in the long term.


9.         長期落實大型公共空間的規劃，包括部分油麻地果欄和文昌街公園。由此加強社區營造，改善市民健康。
In the long term implementing planned large public open spaces, including part of Yau Ma Tei Fruit Marketand Man Cheong Street Park. This will strengthen community building and improve public health.

下一階段：讓我們齊齊為健康油旺出力 ！

我們誠意歡迎您的意見、建議和支持。請聯香港規劃師學會行政秘書戴小姐，電話: 2915 6212 ，電郵：info@hkip.org.hk

Next Stage: Together We Build a Healthy Yau Mong District

We sincerely welcome comments and support, and please feel free to contact the Hong Kong Institute of Planners (Executive Secretary, Ms Tai, Tel: 2915 6212, Email: info@hkip.org.hk)


香港規劃師學會健康城市專責組
醫護行者

Healthy City Taskforce of the Hong Kong Institute of Planners  
Health In Action

 
 
HKIP