Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Acting Secretary for Health, Dr Libby Lee, chaired the 20th meeting of the Cancer Coordinating Committee (CCC) today (June 3) to discuss the response strategies and measures against cancer with relevant government departments and organisations.

     Dr Lee said, “Cancer has been the top killer in Hong Kong for years, accounting for more than 40 deaths every day on average. According to the World Health Organization, 30 per cent to 50 per cent of cancer cases could be prevented by modifying or avoiding key risk factors and implementing evidence-based prevention strategies. Prevention as well as early detection and management of cancer patients are the most cost-effective long-term strategies in reducing the cancer burden.”

     During the meeting, the CCC examined the implementation of the Hong Kong Cancer Strategy (the Strategy). Promulgated in July 2019, the Strategy was Hong Kong’s first holistic plan on the work of cancer prevention and control, aiming to identify service gaps and formulate strategic priorities and directions to reduce the local disease burden of cancer.

     The CCC also examined the city-wide population-based cancer surveillance data for 2022, including figures on incidence, mortality, survival rates and cancer prevalence in the population for major cancers. A total of 35 373 newly diagnosed cancer cases were recorded in 2022, involving 17 239 males and 18 134 females. In other words, 97 new cancer cases were diagnosed every day on average. Among which, lung cancer (5 707 cases) remains the most common cancer in Hong Kong, while breast cancer (5 208 cases, including male breast cancer) has for the first time outnumbered colorectal cancer (5 190 cases), accounting for the second and third most common cancers, respectively.

     Dr Lee said, “Cancer mortality rates of both males and females have shown a declining trend over the past three decades, indicating Hong Kong’s healthcare system has yielded positive results in combating cancer. In addition, the stage-specific survival rates of various cancers show that the survival rate will be higher if a patient has the cancer detected at an early stage followed by early treatment. In Hong Kong, most patients with early-stage cancers have a five-year relative survival rate reaching 90 per cent or higher. The ratio of surviving for more than five years for those with certain early-stage cancers, such as female breast, prostate and thyroid cancers, is comparable to that of the general population.”

     The CCC also reviewed and discussed various work on cancer prevention and control, including surveillances, prevention and screening; diagnosis, treatment and survivorship care; and research (see Annex for details).

     Among which, the Department of Health (DH) has been promoting a healthy lifestyle as the primary strategy for cancer prevention to enhance public understanding of cancer prevention and screening. For prevention, primary prevention (i.e. reducing exposure to cancer risk factors) is the most important strategy for reducing the risk of developing cancer. The Government has long been adopting a multipronged approach, including publicity, education, promotion, legislation and regulation, to encourage citizens to adopt a healthy lifestyle, such as a healthy diet, regular physical activities and maintenance of a healthy body weight and waist circumference, as well as avoidance of smoking and alcohol, to reduce the risks of contracting non-communicable diseases including cancer.

     For screening, the DH has implemented the Cervical Screening Programme, the Colorectal Cancer Screening Programme and the Breast Cancer Screening Pilot Programme. Most of the cancer cases identified through various screening programmes are at earlier stages, leading to a more favourable prognosis. In view of this, the 2024 Policy Address announced that the Government will explore the use of artificial intelligence to assist lung cancer screening and implement hepatitis B screening to prevent liver cancer. Details of these works will be announced in due course.

     Established in 2001 and chaired by the Secretary for Health, the CCC comprises cancer experts and doctors from the public and private sectors, academics and public health professionals. The CCC makes recommendations on the formulation of strategies for cancer prevention and control, while steering the direction of work in relation to cancer prevention and screening, treatment, surveillance and research, etc. The Cancer Expert Working Group on Cancer Prevention and Screening under the CCC regularly reviews international and local evidence and makes recommendations on cancer prevention and screening applicable to the local setting. In addition, the Hong Kong Cancer Registry, the Hospital Authority and the Research and Data Analytics Office of the Health Bureau oversee cancer surveillance, treatment and research respectively.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force yesterday (June 2) arrested a man and four women, aged between 24 and 38, for “conspiracy to commit terrorist activities�.

Investigation revealed that the arrested persons were allegedly involved in making police reports via telephone, email and instant messaging applications on multiple occasions between April 29 and May 13, including content which claimed to detonate bombs planted within various offices of the Central People’s Government in Hong Kong and Kai Tak Sports Park, as well as seditious message which incited Taiwan independence and Hong Kong independence.

Police conducted searches at the arrested persons’ residences with court warrants. Some electronic communication devices suspected to be involved in the case were seized.

The arrested man is being detained for further enquiries. The four arrested women were released on bail pending further investigations.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements, led by Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki, today announced that around 460,000 visitor arrivals were recorded during the Mainland’s Tuen Ng Festival long weekend, representing a year-on-year increase of about 11%.

All arrangements for receiving visitors operated smoothly, the working group added.

Mr Chan said Hong Kong once again successfully promoted the integration of culture and tourism during the Mainland’s Tuen Ng Festival long weekend from May 31 to June 2, enabling both visitors and the general public to experience Hong Kong’s unique festive atmosphere.

On the day of the Dragon Boat Festival, the Tourism Board organised Dragon Boat Food Lane and festive photo spots at the Avenue of Stars.

In addition to dragon boat races held across various districts, Tai O held the unique Dragon Boat Water Parade, which attracted a large number of tourists and locals to experience the city’s authentic Dragon Boat Festival culture.

There were also the opening ceremony and carnival of Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage Month 2025 at the Cultural Centre Piazza in Tsim Sha Tsui.

Furthermore, the popularity of the movie “Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In” attracted numerous tourists to visit the Kowloon Walled City Park, exploring the newly opened “Kowloon Walled City: A Cinematic Journey” Movie Set Exhibition.

The working group said the overall operation of the control points, traffic conditions and transport services were mostly smooth during the long weekend.

The Immigration Department recorded a total of around 460,000 inbound visitors to Hong Kong through various sea, land and air control points.

Among them, Mainland visitors accounted for about 360,000, representing a year-on-year increase of about 10% and around 80% of the total arrivals. Meanwhile, the number of non-Mainland visitors was around 94,000, representing a year-on-year increase of about 14%.

The arrival of Mainland visitors peaked on May 31, with around 140,000 arriving in Hong Kong.

During the long weekend, the Express Rail Link West Kowloon Control Point received the highest number of Mainland visitors, followed by the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point.

The Transport Department’s Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre operated round the clock throughout the long weekend to holistically monitor the traffic conditions and public transport services of all districts, including boundary control points, major stations and various tourist hotspots, across the territory.

To meet visitors’ demand, the department directed local and cross-boundary public transport operators to enhance their carrying capacity, including increasing the frequency of bus and green minibus services connecting various land-based boundary control points and strengthening cross-boundary coach services.

Mr Chan thanked relevant government departments, organisations and industries for their dedication and collaboration in making comprehensive preparations, which provided visitors and the public with a high-quality experience during the long weekend.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Acting Secretary for Health Dr Libby Lee chaired the 20th meeting of the Cancer Coordinating Committee today to discuss the response strategies and measures against cancer with relevant government departments and organisations.

During the meeting, the committee examined the implementation of the Hong Kong Cancer Strategy, and looked at in detail the citywide population-based cancer surveillance data for 2022, including figures on incidence, mortality, survival rates and cancer prevalence in the population for major cancers.

A total of 35,373 newly diagnosed cancer cases were recorded in 2022, involving 17,239 men and 18,134 women. In other words, 97 new cancer cases were diagnosed every day on average.

Lung cancer, logging 5,707 cases, remains the most common cancer in Hong Kong.

Breast cancer (5,208 cases) has for the first time outnumbered colorectal cancer (5,190 cases), accounting for the second and third most common cancers.

Dr Lee said: “Cancer mortality rates of both males and females have shown a declining trend over the past three decades, indicating Hong Kong’s healthcare system has yielded positive results in combating cancer.”

She noted that the stage-specific survival rates of various cancers show that the survival rate will be higher if a patient has the cancer detected at an early stage followed by early treatment.

“In Hong Kong, most patients with early-stage cancers have a five-year relative survival rate reaching 90% or higher. The ratio of surviving for more than five years for those with certain early-stage cancers, such as female breast, prostate and thyroid cancers, is comparable to that of the general population.”

The committee also reviewed and discussed various work on cancer prevention and control.

In this respect, the Department of Health has been promoting to the public a healthy lifestyle as the primary strategy for cancer prevention.

Primary prevention, ie reducing exposure to cancer risk factors, is the most important strategy for reducing the risk of developing cancer. The Government has long been adopting a multipronged approach, including publicity, education, promotion, legislation and regulation, to encourage citizens to lead a healthy lifestyle to reduce the risks of contracting non-communicable diseases including cancer.

For screening, the department has implemented the Cervical Screening Programme, the Colorectal Cancer Screening Programme and the Breast Cancer Screening Pilot Programme.

It highlighted that most of the cancer cases identified through various screening programmes are at earlier stages, leading to a more favourable prognosis, therefore, the Government will explore the use of artificial intelligence to assist lung cancer screening and implement hepatitis B screening to prevent liver cancer. Details will be announced in due course.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Police’s National Security Department yesterday arrested one man and four women, aged 24 to 38, for conspiracy to commit terrorist activities.

Investigations revealed that the arrested individuals were allegedly involved in sending messages to Police via telephone, email and instant messaging applications on multiple occasions between April 29 and May 13, the content of which included claims to detonate bombs planted within various offices of the Central People’s Government in Hong Kong and Kai Tak Sports Park, as well as seditious messages inciting Taiwan independence and Hong Kong independence.

With court warrants, Police conducted searches at the five people’s residences and seized electronic communication devices suspected to be involved in the case.

The arrested man is being detained for further enquiries, while the four arrested women were released on bail pending further investigations.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Hospital Authority (HA) today said it is proactively following up with medical device supplier Abbott Laboratories about the product recall of a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) reagent.

Two affected batches of the reagent were delivered to Caritas Medical Centre (CMC) and Tuen Mun Hospital (TMH) respectively.

CMC started to use the affected batch of reagent to test 406 patient blood samples since April 28, while the reagent delivered to TMH has not been used yet.

On May 27, the HA received notification from the supplier about complaints received in different places, revealing quality issues with certain batches of a PSA reagent.

These issues have led to deviations in test results, with some readings exhibiting a positive bias greater than 10%, which could potentially lead to a misdiagnosis of prostate cancer, causing doctors to erroneously consider unnecessary treatments.

For prudence sake, CMC has reviewed the test results of the 406 affected patient blood samples. It will contact approximately 70 patients this week and rearrange blood tests based on the patients’ clinical needs.

The remaining patients have also been scheduled for follow-up appointments in the coming weeks, during which doctors will explain the event and arrange appropriate management to ensure their treatment unaffected.

The HA said a PSA test is not a standalone diagnostic indicator and doctors will make a comprehensive clinical judgment based on patient’s clinical condition and other examinations to diagnose whether the patient has prostate cancer.

It also pointed out that the CMC has confirmed that no patients have undergone unnecessary clinical procedures nor experienced delays in treatment.

CMC has set up a hotline, 5334 0388 for patient enquiries.

As the reagent delivered to TMH has not yet been put into use, no patients have been affected.

Both CMC and TMH have stopped using the affected batches of reagent and replaced them with alternatives. The HA has also reviewed the reagent used in other public hospitals and confirmed that none have used the affected batches.

The PSA testing service in all public hospitals remains unaffected.

The HA is stringently following up on this event and has notified the Department of Health (DH).

The HA has demanded the supplier concerned to thoroughly investigate its quality control and testing records, provide an explanation, and implement remedial measures.

The authority also does not rule out taking further action to hold the supplier accountable, and will continue to closely follow up with the DH and the supplier.

The supplier will be required to provide quality control records and testing certifications in the future to prove that their testing supplies meet with the stringent requirements, so as to ascertain patient safety and testing accuracy.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Registration & Electoral Office (REO) announced today that the publication date of the provisional register for the 2025 Election Committee subsectors (ECSSs) will be advanced to June 24.

The provisional register and omissions list for the ECSSs will be available for inspection until June 30 by specified persons under the law.

The final register for the 2025 ECSSs will be published on July 21.

The REO explained that the arrangement was made to tie in with the ECSS By-elections to be held on September 7, as well as the subsequent eighth-term Legislative Council general election to be held on December 7 this year.

It elaborated that the Electoral Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Ordinance 2025 empowers the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) to suitably advance the publication of the registers for ECSSs in the year of the LegCo general election, so that the ECSS By‑elections of the year can be conducted in accordance with the most updated information included in the register without having to adopt the register published in late September in the year earlier. To enable the ECSS By‑elections to be conducted on the basis of the latest voter situation, the ERO will advance the compilation and publication of the 2025 provisional/final registers for ECSSs.

Voters/new applicants of ECSSs who received requests from the REO for supplementary information should reply by June 9.

Separately, voters who have been included in the omissions list for ECSSs will receive reminder letters from the REO to confirm their eligibility. These individuals must reply or provide supplementary information by June 30 so that they may, upon the Revising Officer’s approval, keep their voter status and be included in the final register of ECSSs. They may also raise claims or objections on or before June 30.

The REO will publish notices in the Gazette on July 4 to announce the number of Election Committee (EC) members to be returned for the relevant subsectors at the ECSS By-elections, the designated bodies of subsectors that need to fill vacancies of EC members and the number of EC members that they can nominate, and the details for the submission of nomination forms.