Author Archives: hksar gov

     â€‹The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Toronto) (Toronto ETO) supported the inaugural edition of the Kung Fu Film Festival (Festival), which has presented six screenings of martial arts movies across the Greater Toronto Area from May 31 to June 1 (Toronto time) to celebrate the 50 years of Hong Kong’s kung fu cinema heritage and its influence on global film culture.

     To mark the festival’s debut, Toronto ETO hosted an opening ceremony in Markham on May 31 with the presence of Canada Hong Kong Intercultural Association President and the Festival Chair, Ms Connie Yu, Secretary Manager of Southern Film Culture Foundation and the Festival Curator, Ms Catherine Lam, along with the Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China in Toronto, Mr Luo Weidong, Senator Mr Woo Yuen-pau, Member of Parliament of Canada Mr Michael Ma and about 50 guests from the local film, cultural and business communities. Some of them also graced the closing ceremony before the screening of the Hong Kong production “Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In” directed by Soi Cheang and starring Louis Koo, Raymond Lam and Philip Ng in Toronto on June 1.

     Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Acting Director of the Toronto ETO, Mr Gavin Yeung, highlighted Hong Kong’s position as an international hub for the arts, cultural and creative industries.

     “Each film featured in this festival is a gem of Hong Kong’s film industry,” Mr Yeung shared. “Over the decades, Hong Kong movies and film talents have won numerous international awards. Many Hong Kong actors, directors, cinematographers and producers have become household names at global level.”

     Mr Yeung also reaffirmed the commitment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government to supporting the cultural and creative industries, noting that significant funding has been approved through the Film Development Fund for film projects. He added that the Toronto ETO would continue to bring more Hong Kong films to participate in various international film festivals across Canada.

     The two-day festival curated a selection of six Hong Kong martial arts films produced between 1974 and 2024, including “The Shaolin Temple” (including a special AI anime version), “Martial Club”, “Ip Man 3”, “Kids from Shaolin”, “Hapkido”, and “Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In”, offering Canadian audience a dynamic view into the evolution of Hong Kong-produced kung fu cinema.

     In addition, a student seminar with Q&A session was held during the festival at Cineplex Cinemas Scarborough on June 1. The audience actively engaged in the discussion and shared their views on Hong Kong’s martial arts movies.

    

     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.

    

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesman for Kwong Wah Hospital (KWH) made the following statement today (June 3) regarding an incident of a nurse suspected to have been indecently assaulted:

     A nurse was suspected to have been indecently assaulted in a ward at around 12pm today. Upon receiving the report from the nurse, the hospital reported the incident to the Police immediately. A 78-year-old male patient was subsequently arrested by the Police in the ward.

     KWH is highly concerned about the incident. The hospital strongly condemns the suspected indecent acts against its staff, resolutely adopts a zero-tolerance attitude towards this incident, and will follow up seriously while fully co-operating with the Police’s investigation. The hospital has expressed sympathy and provided support to the nurse concerned.

     The hospital has reported the incident to the Hospital Authority Head Office via the Advance Incident Reporting System.  read more

     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 sending messages to police 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. read more

     Police today (June 3) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Sheung Shui.      Wong Sum-wah, aged 77, went missing after he was last seen in a shopping mall on Choi Yuen Road … read more