Background Traditional health education has aimed to change the behaviour of individuals toward healthier lifestyle. There is increasing criticism of this narrow approach that is only aiming to change people to fit the environment, and has done little to make the environment a healthier place to live in. The health education programmes should include providing health information, exploring values and atitudes, making health decision and acquiring skills to enable behaviour change towards healthier lifestyles to take place. It should also train people to develop self-esteem and self empowerment so that people are enabled to take action about their health. The WHO defines the process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve their health as health promotion. In broader term, health education comprises consciously constructed opportunities for learning designed to improve health literacy, including improving knowledge and developing life skills which are conductive to individual and community health. Health promotion requires knowledge and skills in working with people to promote health in many different situations with a variety of different aims. To enhance the training for health promotion and health education in schools, the "Healthy School Programme"had launched in 1998 Centre for Health Education and Health Promotion of The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Health Promoting School can be characterized as a school that is constantly strengthening its capacity as a healthy setting for living, learning and working. In order to further elevate the standard and promote community health and health education in Hong Kong, "The Health Education and Health Promotion Foundation" (HEP Foundation) was established as an independent non-profit-making organization in October 1999 and incorporated with Limited Liability in December 2000. Mission To promote health education and health promotion through training, education, reseachand service development with emphasis on partnership and multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral approach. Objectives To cultivate the public participation in the practice of health education and health promotion. To enhance the quality and standard of practice in health education and health promotion. To provide professional training in health education and health promotion, to conduct related examinations and give formal recognition of the standard of such training and examinations. To promote close co-operation among the medical and health professionals, education professionals, social scientists and any other allied professionals for pursuing the objects of the Foundation. To foster and develop a high standard of professionalism and ethics among the practicing professionals. To work collaboratively with other institutions, professional bodies and persons both locally and overseas on the health education and health promotion matters. To act as advisory body of health education and health promotion. To deliver services related to health education and health promotion. To conduct research and promote evidence-based health education and health promotion. To do all such lawful things as are incidental or conclusive to the attainment of all or any of the objects of the Foundation.