Children and young people are facing many challenges and crisis on their way of growing up to be a healthy, responsible and productive citizen. School has been proven to be the best setting for addressing the intertwined social, educational, psychological and health needs of children and adolescents. Fostered from the concept of health promoting schools (HPS) initiated by WHO Western Pacific Regional Office (WHO/WPRO), the Centre for Health Education and Health Promotion of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CHEP) launched the first territory-wide Hong Kong Healthy Schools Award Scheme (HSA) in 2001 which aims at working with schools to promote better health and well-being for students, school personnel and the community. CHEP will give an overview on the development of HPS in Hong Kong. Dr Robin Cheung, the Principal of Tsung Tsin College will draw from the experience of their school which has been a front-runner of health promotion and gold award winner of the HSA, and illustrate how to make health promotion and education central and sustainable in schools. Mr Lee Kai-yau of PLK Fong Wong Kam Chuen Primary School will introduce the school-based strategies that they have employed to help students to cultivate healthy living habits.