The Department of Health (DH) today (January 11) urged the general public to support Cervical Cancer Awareness Month through enhancing their knowledge about cervical cancer and taking preventive measures such as cervical screening.

     In 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced a call to eliminate cervical cancer by 2100 through global efforts. In Hong Kong, cervical cancer ranked as the seventh most common cancer among women in 2021, resulting in around 600 new cases and 180 deaths. 

     Persistent infection with cancer-causing human papillomavirus (HPV) may lead to cervical cancer. Women who smoke, engage in sexual activity early, have multiple sexual partners, or have weakened immunity are at increased risk of HPV infection and subsequent development of cervical cancer. Therefore, women are recommended to:
 

• Receive HPV vaccine before sexual debut;
• Undergo cervical screenings regularly;
• Practise safe sex (e.g. use condoms and avoid having multiple sexual partners); and
• Refrain from smoking.

     HPV vaccines work best for women who have never been exposed to HPV infection, i.e. before their first sexual encounter. Since the 2019/20 school year, the DH has been providing free HPV vaccine to Primary 5 school girls through the Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme's school outreach vaccination service. The School Immunisation Teams (SITs) under the Centre for Health Protection provide the first dose of HPV vaccine to Primary 5 female students at their schools, and the second dose will be given to them when they reach Primary 6 in the following school year. The second dose coverage rates of HPV vaccination for Primary 6 girls of school year 2021/22 was 89 per cent, achieving the interim target of 70 per cent coverage set by the Hong Kong Cancer Strategy.

     The majority of women infected with HPV, or in the early stages of cervical cancer, do not exhibit noticeable symptoms. According to the Hong Kong Cancer Registry, over 40 per cent of cervical cancer cases were not identified until they had reached an advanced stage. Therefore, it is crucial for women aged 25 to 64 who have had a sexual experience to undergo cervical screening, and do so regularly. However, the Population Health Survey 2020-22 conducted by the DH revealed that merely half of the eligible women had ever been screened for cervical cancer. 

     Cervical screening services are available at various locations, including the Maternal and Child Health Centres (MCHCs) and Women's Health Centres operated by the DH, as well as non-governmental organisations and private clinics. Common screening methods include the cytology test (also called Pap smear) and the HPV test of cervical samples collected by healthcare professionals. While HPV testing of a self-collected vaginal sample is also recognised by the WHO, alternative HPV testing of self-collected samples, such as using a urine sample, currently lack robust international scientific evidence.
     
     Women who wish to receive a cervical screening at the MCHC can schedule an appointment through their 24-hour hotline 3166 6631. For further information on cervical cancer and screenings, please visit www.cervicalscreening.gov.hk.

     The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) today (January 11) removed one storage type electric water heater model from the record of listed models under the Energy Efficiency (Labelling of Products) Ordinance. Supply of such a product is no longer allowed in Hong Kong with immediate effect.

     Details of the product are as follows:
 
Storage type electric water heater

 
     The EMSD administers the Mandatory Energy Efficiency Labelling Scheme in accordance with the Ordinance and selects samples of the listed models regularly for conducting compliance monitoring tests to check whether they conform with the energy efficiency and performance characteristics submitted to the EMSD. As the test result of the product concerned showed that it failed to reach the relevant energy efficiency and/or performance characteristics, the EMSD has decided to remove such a product from the record of listed models.

     The EMSD has served a notice under the Ordinance to the importer concerned. The importer will publish a newspaper notice to announce the termination of supply of the product concerned.

     Members of the public can contact the above importer for enquiries.

    

Attention TV and radio duty announcers:

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

     A fire broke out at a recycling site on Ho Suen Street in Pillar Point at 1.13pm today (January 11). The Fire Services Department is conducting a firefighting operation. 

     Members of the public who are being affected by the smoke and an unusual odour carried by the wind are advised to close their doors and windows and stay calm.
 

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (January 10) mounted an anti-smuggling operation in the vicinity of Tai O, Lantau Island, and detected a suspected smuggling case using speedboats. About 3 100 kilograms of suspected smuggled lobsters, with an estimated market value of about $1.24 million, were seized. 

     Customs officers yesterday conducted an anti-smuggling operation in the vicinity of Tai O and observed five electric tricycles loaded with goods moving slowly towards the seashore. Also, some men were seen gathering at the seashore. Later, two suspicious speedboats were seen heading towards the seashore with its navigation lights off, and two of the electric tricycles approached the seashore immediately. The drivers of the two tricycles and the above-mentioned persons quickly transferred the goods from the vehicles onto the speedboats, and were suspected of engaging in smuggling activities. 

     Customs officers immediately took action, and the above-mentioned persons and the two tricycle drivers swiftly jumped onto the speedboat and fled to Mainland waters. The rest of the drivers abandoned their tricycles and ran away from the scene.

     During the operation, Customs officers seized about 3 100kg of suspected smuggled lobsters. Five electric tricycles, all suspected to be involved in the case, were also detained.

     An investigation is ongoing. 

     Customs will continue to take stringent enforcement actions against cross-boundary smuggling activities through risk assessment and intelligence analysis.

     Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
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     Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/).

    

     Police today (January 11) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Tin Shui Wai.

     Ng Wai-hon, aged 43, went missing after he was last seen at a care centre in Tin Wah Estate on December 27, 2023 morning. Staff of the care centre made a report to Police on the next day (December 28).

     He is about 1.65 metres tall, 60 kilograms in weight and of medium build. He has a square face with yellow complexion and black and blonde curly hair in shoulder length. He was last seen wearing a green jacket, a black short-sleeved T-shirt, black trousers and black shoes.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of New Territories North on 3661 3113 or email to rmpu-ntn-1@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.