In support of World Hepatitis Day 2024 (July 28) designated by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Department of Health (DH) has enhanced publicity with the theme "Managing hepatitis B for healthy living", aiming to raise awareness of viral hepatitis and remind people with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) to have regular examinations and receive treatments and medical follow-ups for disease management.     
      
     As derived from the results of the Thematic Report on Viral Hepatitis (Population Health Survey (PHS) 2020-22), published by the DH last year, about 5.6 per cent of the Hong Kong population, which is about 410 000 people, have CHB. The PHS 2020-22 also revealed that nearly 40 per cent of people with CHB were not aware of their disease and about 70 per cent of people with CHB did not have any medical follow-up for their liver diseases. This revealed a substantial proportion of persons with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection are unaware of, or are attaching little importance to, their hepatitis condition.
      
     A spokesman for the DH said, "CHB is a lifelong infection that may remain asymptomatic for decades until the liver is severely damaged. About 15 to 40 per cent of untreated people with CHB may progress to life-threatening liver diseases such as cirrhosis and liver cancer. In Hong Kong, liver cancer was the third-leading cause of cancer deaths which claimed 1 412 lives in 2022. There are local studies showing that the majority of liver cancer cases were related to CHB.
      
     "People with CHB should have regular examinations and follow-ups for early detection and management of changes in their liver condition. Doctors will assess the conditions of each person with CHB to determine when oral antiviral medication, which can inhibit HBV replication effectively and thereby greatly reduce the risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer, is needed," the spokesman added.
      
     Members of the public with unknown infection and immune status of hepatitis B, particularly those at a higher risk of HBV infection such as family members (including parents, siblings and offspring) and sexual partners of people with CHB, should also consult family doctors for hepatitis B testing and take necessary measures to prevent HBV infection, including receiving hepatitis B vaccination as applicable.
      
     Early identification and management of people with CHB is one of the focus areas of the Hong Kong Viral Hepatitis Action Plan 2020 – 2024 (the Action Plan), which was launched in October 2020. The Action Plan sets out a comprehensive strategy, which includes piloting a model on service collaboration between Medicine Specialist Out-patient Clinics and Family Medicine Specialist Clinics in some clusters of the Hospital Authority (HA) for strengthening care. The role of primary healthcare in strengthening hepatitis B care will be further explored. The DH, HA and the Primary Healthcare Commission will continue to promote the Action Plan based on relevant service outcomes to reduce the transmission and disease burden of viral hepatitis in advancing progressively towards the target of eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat.
      
     â€‹For information on World Hepatitis Day 2024 and hepatitis B, please visit the thematic website and Viral Hepatitis Control Office's website of the DH.

     The Hong Kong Tourism Board and the Government are working to improve tourism via modifying the Quality Tourism Services Scheme that enhances the industry's service standards and encouraging citizens to embrace the concept of "Tourism is everywhere in Hong Kong".
      
     News.gov.hk learnt more about such efforts while interviewing the Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Raistlin Lau, who highlighted how residents can help foster hospitality, and the Deputy Executive Director of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, Ms Becky Ip, who explained the scheme's revisions.
      
     Additionally, two winners of the Outstanding Quality Tourism Services Merchant Service Staff Award in 2022 shared the kind of services they provide to ensure customers feel welcome.
      
     The story is available at www.news.gov.hk/eng/feature/ today (July 28) in text and video format.

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (July 28) that due to big waves, red flags have been hoisted at Shek O Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island; Hung Shing Yeh Beach, Pui O Beach in Islands District; Hap Mun Bay Beach, Silverstrand Beach and Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at these beaches.

     The Transport Department today (July 28) reminded members of the public that the 32nd round of computer ballot registration for submitting applications for Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles (the scheme) will be open from 10am tomorrow (July 29) to 11.59pm on August 1, and the ballot result will be announced on August 2.
      
     Eligible applicants for the scheme can register for computer balloting through the designated website (www.hzmbqfs.gov.hk). Successful balloting applicants are required to submit applications for the scheme within the designated date and time randomly allocated by the computer system.

     Owing to the thunderstorm warning, the flag-raising ceremony to be conducted at Golden Bauhinia Square, Wan Chai at 8am today (July 28) will be cancelled.

     If the thunderstorm warning is cancelled and weather conditions permit by then, the flag-raising ceremony may be resumed without further notice.