The following is issued on behalf of the Liquor Licensing Board:

     The Liquor Licensing Board will meet on Tuesday (February 6) to consider an application for a new issue of liquor licence.

     The application is:
 
Hong Kong:
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KUMONOKYUDEN in Central

     The meeting will be held at 9.45am in the conference room, Room 102, 1/F, 258 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai. Members of the public are welcome to attend.

     The Department of Health (DH) today (February 4) urged members of the public to support World Cancer Day 2024 by adopting a healthy lifestyle and initiating early detection of cancer through screening.

     World Cancer Day has been designated on February 4 every year by the Union for International Cancer Control since 2000 to raise worldwide awareness of cancer and unite the world in the fight against the global cancer epidemic. Under the theme "Close the Care Gap", World Cancer Day 2024 is about prioritising cancer, creating innovative strategies designed to confront inequity and investing resources to achieve a just and cancer-free world. 

     A spokesman for the DH said that cancer is a major public health issue. In 2021, more than 38 000 new cancer cases were diagnosed in Hong Kong, and the five most common cancers were lung, colorectal, breast, prostate and liver cancers. Cancer is also the top killer locally causing nearly 15 000 deaths registered in 2022. Given the ageing population, the number of new cancer cases and the related healthcare demands are expected to further increase.

     Prevention is better than cure. About 40 per cent of all cancers can be prevented through the adoption of a healthy lifestyle and the reduction of exposure to major risk factors. "We urge the public to avoid tobacco smoking, refrain from alcohol drinking, be physically active, have a balanced diet and maintain a healthy body weight and waist circumference to reduce the risk of developing cancer," the spokesman advised. 

     In addition to primary prevention by advocating a healthy lifestyle, the Government adopts an evidence-based approach in regard to the implementation of cancer screening to achieve early diagnosis of cancer for initiating early treatment and thus improving treatment outcomes.

     The Colorectal Cancer Screening Programme (CRCSP) subsidises asymptomatic Hong Kong residents aged between 50 and 75 to undergo screening tests for colorectal cancer. To prevent cervical cancer, women aged 25 to 64 who have had sexual experience should receive cervical screening regularly. Under the Cervical Screening Programme (CSP), the Maternal and Child Health Centres (MCHCs) of the DH provide subsidised cervical screening to eligible women. In addition to the CRCSP and the CSP, Phase 1 of the Breast Cancer Screening Pilot Programme (BCSPP) has been rolled out to provide risk-based breast cancer screening services for eligible women in the three Women Health Centres and the 18 Elderly Health Centres of the DH since 2021. The DH has been actively preparing the next phase of the BCSPP and details will be announced in due course.

     The spokesman reminds the public to talk to their doctors to understand the benefits and limitations of screening tests before making an informed decision to undergo cancer screening. For more information, the public may visit the websites of the CRCSP (www.colonscreen.gov.hk) and the CSP (www.cervicalscreening.gov.hk). Women who wish to receive cervical screening at the MCHCs can schedule an appointment through their 24-hour hotline 3166 6631. Details of the BCSPP are available on the websites of Family Health Service (www.fhs.gov.hk) and Elderly Health Service (www.elderly.gov.hk). Health advice on cancer prevention and relevant screening is also available on the website of Centre for Health Protection (www.chp.gov.hk/en/healthtopics/content/25/102972.html).

     To know more about World Cancer Day, please visit www.worldcancerday.org.

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 (February 4) that due to big waves, red flag has been hoisted at Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at the beach.

     The Correctional Services Department's recently established Ethics College is helping to transform the lives of adults in custody by offering full-time educational opportunities that allow them to attain accredited qualifications.
 
     News.gov.hk spoke to two students from the college to find out how, after a semester, they have progressed in their studies and in their plans for the future.
 
     The story is available at www.news.gov.hk/eng/feature/ today (February 4) in text and video format.

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

     Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:

     The Marine Department today (February 4) reminded masters, coxswains and persons-in-charge of vessels navigating in Hong Kong waters to proceed at a safe speed and exercise extreme caution because restricted visibility of less than 2 nautical miles has been reported.

     Appropriate sound signals shall be made when underway or at anchor. All vessels must comply with the International Regulations for Preventing Collision at Sea.

     Also, when radar is used without the benefit of adequate plotting facilities, the information obtained from the equipment is rather limited and should be construed accordingly.

     Visibility reports are broadcast by the Vessel Traffic Centre (VTC) on VHF channels 02, 12, 14, 63 and 67.

     In the event of an accident, a report shall be made immediately to the VTC at Tel: 2233 7801.