Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Department of Health (DH) announced today (December 30) that Hong Kong residents born in the years between 1946 and 1972 are eligible to enrol in the Colorectal Cancer Screening Programme (CRCSP) from January 1, 2022.

     The CRCSP was implemented as a pilot in 2016, regularised in 2018 and fully implemented in 2020 to subsidise asymptomatic Hong Kong residents aged between 50 and 75 to undergo screening tests every two years in the private sector for prevention of colorectal cancer. The years of birth of eligible persons are updated at the beginning of each year.

     Under the programme, participants should attend a medical consultation provided by an enrolled primary care doctor (PCD) and receive a Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) screening arranged by the PCD. If the FIT result is positive, the participant will be referred to an enrolled colonoscopy specialist to receive a colonoscopy examination subsidised by the Government. If the FIT result is negative, the participant is advised to repeat the screening two years later.

     Since the launch of the CRCSP, more than 275 000 eligible persons have participated and received a FIT screening.

     On screening outcomes, as of end-November this year, among those participants who had submitted FIT tube samples with analysable results, about 33 900 persons (13.0 per cent) had positive results in the first round of screening, around 7 300 persons (10.8 per cent) had positive results in the second round of screening and around 800 persons (10.2 per cent) had positive results in the third round of screening. Among those FIT-positive participants who underwent a colonoscopy examination, about 22 000 persons (61.7 per cent) had colorectal adenomas and around 2 000 persons had colorectal cancer (5.5 per cent).

     A spokesman for the DH said that screenings can identify people who have colorectal cancer before they present with symptoms, or those with higher risk of colorectal cancer, and enable them to receive early treatment, thus significantly improving the prognosis. With colorectal adenoma removed in the course of a colonoscopy, these lesions are also prevented from turning into cancer.

     A preliminary analysis of 1 300 colorectal cancer cases diagnosed under the CRCSP also revealed that about 60 per cent of these cases belonged to earlier stages, thus having a more favourable prognosis.

     Colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer locally. In 2019, there were 5 556 newly diagnosed colorectal cancer cases, accounting for 15.8 per cent of new cancer cases. Colorectal cancer is also the second most common cause of cancer death after lung cancer in Hong Kong. In 2020, colorectal cancer led to 2 287 deaths, accounting for 15.4 per cent of all cancer deaths.

     There is no quota for participants under the CRCSP and it is heavily subsidised by the Government. A government subsidy of $280 per consultation by PCD applies, including the second consultation to follow up on a positive FIT test result. Under the standard colonoscopy service package targeted at FIT-positive participants, the subsidy amount is $8,500 if polyp removal is necessary, whereas the amount is $7,800 if no polyp removal is needed. Colonoscopy specialists may charge a co-payment not exceeding $1,000 when providing the standard colonoscopy examination service.

     Currently, more than 950 PCDs have successfully enrolled in the CRCSP covering about 1 600 locations, and about 97 per cent of these locations will not charge any additional payment for the screening.

     Over 220 colonoscopy specialists have also joined the CRCSP to provide colonoscopy examination services at about 600 service locations. If no polyp removal is necessary, about 86 per cent of these locations will not require additional charges. If polyp removal is needed, about 75 per cent of these locations will not require additional charges.

     The spokesman called on eligible persons to join the CRCSP as soon as possible, and prevent colorectal cancer by leading a healthy lifestyle including exercising regularly, eating two servings of fruit and three servings of vegetables daily, maintaining a healthy body weight, and saying no to smoking and alcohol.

     Eligible persons who are interested to join the CRCSP should enrol in the Electronic Health Record Sharing System (eHRSS). Please refer to the eHRSS website at www.ehealth.gov.hk or call the Registration Office at 3467 6300 for details.

     â€‹For more information on the CRCSP, please visit the DH’s thematic website www.colonscreen.gov.hk or call the dedicated hotline (3565 6288) during office hours. read more

     The Government announced today (December 30) the appointment of two young members to the Family Council through the Member Self-recommendation Scheme for Youth for a term from January 1, 2022, to March 31, 2023. The two new members are Mr Solomon Wong Bing-kin and Mr Cheung Pok-man. Mr Wong holds a Master of Science Degree in Gerontology and works as a programme manager of a philanthropic organisation. Mr Cheung holds a Bachelor of Laws Degree and Postgraduate Certificate in Laws, and is a practising solicitor in Hong Kong.

     Since its establishment in 2007, the Council has served as a cross-sector and cross-bureau platform for examining family-related policies and promoting a culture of loving families in the community. The Council comprises official members, non-official members from various backgrounds, as well as the Chairpersons of the Elderly Commission and the Women’s Commission, and the Vice-Chairperson of the Youth Development Commission as ex-officio members. read more

     In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) appealed to members of the public today (December 30) to observe regulations on the prohibition of group gatherings at the department’s venues while celebrating New Year’s Eve in order to reduce the chances of spreading the virus in the community. Furthermore, members of the public should not enter closed leisure facilities or litter at the LCSD’s venues.

     The LCSD appealed to members of the public to comply with the Prevention and Control of Disease (Prohibition on Group Gathering) Regulation (Cap. 599G). The number of people in group gatherings should not be more than that as stipulated by the law. Members of the public should wear masks at all times when being present in any public place in accordance with the Prevention and Control of Disease (Wearing of Mask) Regulation (Cap. 599I). Offenders are liable to prosecution.

     The LCSD will work with other government departments to implement a series of measures on New Year’s Eve to maintain cleanliness and safety at LCSD venues including Tamar Park, the Central and Western District Promenade (Central Section), the Hong Kong Cultural Centre (HKCC) Piazza, Salisbury Garden, the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade, the Avenue of Stars, Middle Road Children’s Playground, Tsim Sha Tsui East Waterfront Podium Garden and Urban Council Centenary Garden.

     An LCSD spokesman said, “The LCSD will step up patrols at relevant venues and will call upon venue users to comply with the regulations on the prohibition of group gatherings of more than the number of people as stipulated by the law and the mask-wearing requirement in public places. Enforcement action will be taken against offenders. Our staff, together with law enforcement teams of relevant departments, will also step up patrols and take action against littering, illegal hawking and acts that disrupt public order maliciously, among others. Offenders are liable to prosecution.”

     The public announcement systems at the HKCC will also broadcast messages on crowd management, regulations on the prohibition of group gatherings and the requirement on wearing masks, and anti-littering in Cantonese, Putonghua and English on a regular basis during the holiday. Crowd control measures will be implemented at the HKCC Piazza, Salisbury Garden, the Avenue of Stars and the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade based on actual conditions. Members of the public are advised to pay attention to the announcements, follow the instructions of the duty personnel and mind their safety. read more

     The GBA Mediator Accreditation Standards and the GBA Mediator Code of Conduct Best Practice, endorsed by the third Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area Legal Departments Joint Conference on December 10, were officially released and came into effect today (December 30).

     The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) comprises three different legal systems of the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao. The mediation models, systems and development are also different among the three places. The promulgation of a set of unified accreditation standards and code of conduct best practice for mediators in the GBA is a major milestone in the building of the rule of law in the GBA and Hong Kong’s integration into the GBA development. It will also foster the professional development of the mediators in the GBA, thereby enhancing the confidence of mediation users within the GBA.

     Enacted and published by the GBA Mediation Platform, the GBA Mediator Accreditation Standards will be implemented by the legal departments of the three places when formulating their accreditation rules, while the GBA Mediator Code of Conduct Best Practice will serve as a reference and basis for the GBA mediation institutions when developing their respective standards of professional code of conduct in detail, having regard to their actual circumstances and operational needs.

     The English cursory translation of the GBA Mediator Accreditation Standards and the GBA Mediator Code of Conduct Best Practice can be viewed on the Department of Justice’s website. read more

     The Transport Department (TD) today (December 30) reminded members of the public that the fares of the bus routes operated by Citybus Limited (Franchise for Hong Kong Island and Cross-Harbour Bus Network) and New World First Bus Services Limited, together with their cross-harbour routes jointly operated by the Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Limited, will be adjusted with effect from January 2, 2022.

     The bus companies have displayed notices at bus stops and termini to inform passengers of the fare adjustments. Members of the public may also visit the bus companies’ websites (www.bravobus.com.hk and www.kmb.hk) for the new fares of individual routes. read more