Newsletter No. 291

第二九一期　二零零七年一月十九日 No. 291 19 January 2007 3 為推廣校園步行文化，大學健康促進及防護委員會將與多個部門合辦校園步行活動， 詳情稍後公布。 To promote awalking culture, the Committee of Health Promotion and Protection is organizing a walking campaign on campus in collaboration with various departments and units. Details of the campaign will be announced later. 5 健康小貼士 行樓梯有助： 強化心臟及血管。 ·· 改善心肺功能，促進血液循環。 ·· 減低患上冠心病、高血壓、糖尿病及結腸癌的危險。 ·· 增強身體抵抗力。 ·· 強健骨骼，減低患上骨質疏鬆症的危險。 ·· 強化肌肉。 ·· 燃燒脂肪，控制體重。 ·· （資料來源：「行樓梯 健身心」網頁 stairclimbing.cheu.gov.hk/ ） T o encourage walking on campus, the University’s Campus Development Office and Estates Management Office designed a pedestrian trail which is both scenic and convenient. What’s more, it takes about the same amount of time to cover as would a trip by school bus from the same starting to finishing points. Setting out from the train station, the trail winds around Pond Crescent, passing Ho Tim Building and Chung Chi Road, before reaching the carpark of the William M.W. Mong Engineering Building 13 minutes later. For the convenience of commuters of Chung Chi Campus and Central Campus, the building has a lift that only stops at G/F, 4/F and 9/F, whisking passengers from G/F to 9/F in a mere 15 seconds. Passengers can then take the overhead walkway straddling University Road to the Ho Sin-Hang Engineering Building and Lady ShawBuilding. Along the way, they can enjoy views of the Eastern and Western parts of the campus. At Lady Shaw Building, they can ascend a staircase to the University Mall. The trip takes about 17 minutes, approximately the same as taking the bus. Crossing the University Mall from Lady Shaw Building, pedestrians will arrive at the Mong Man Wai Building after a six-minute walk. From there, they can take the lift to 7/F where they will be greeted by breathtaking views of Ma On Shan in the distance. Leaving the building, a few steps across the road take them to Cheng Ming Building of New Asia College. The whole distance should take less than 27 minutes. What the Doctors Say Doctors recommend engaging in 30 minutes of exercise of medium intensity to improve health. Walking costs nothing, is suitable for all ages, and can be carried out at any time. It helps to burn fat, tone muscles and strengthen bones. A study which tracks the health of 11,130 Harvard alumni shows that those who expend 1,000 calories a week (equivalent to walking a half- hour a day, five days a week) cut their risk of stroke by 24%, while those who work off 2,000 calories a week (equivalent to walking 60 minutes a day, five days a week) reduce their risk of stroke by up to 46%. In 2003, the Hong Kong Medical Association launched the Healthy 8,000 Steps Campaign which aims at arousing public awareness of the importance of daily exercise to one’s physical and mental health. The Department of Health and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department also run a ‘Stair Climbing to Health’ website ( stairclimbing.cheu.gov.hk/ ) to promote stair-climbing as a form of daily exercise. The pedestrian trail serves to give commuters a green option to school buses which remain the primary means of transport on campus. Walking is not only healthy, it also reduces the burden on buses, keeps the air fresh and enables campus members to enjoy the marvelous natural scenery.