The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     Exchange Fund Bills tender results:
 

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     Hong Kong Monetary Authority tenders to be held in the week beginning February 10, 2020:
 

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by Bank of Singapore Limited on suspicious application (App), which has been reported to the HKMA. Hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website for ease of reference by members of the public.
 
     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information to the App concerned or has conducted any financial transactions through the App should contact the bank concerned using the contact information provided in the press release, and report to the Police or contact the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.
 

     The Land Registry today (February 4) released its statistics for January 2020.
 
Land registration
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* The number of sale and purchase agreements for all building units received for registration in January was 3,776 (-3.4 per cent compared with December 2019 and -32.4 per cent compared with January 2019)

* The 12-month moving average for January was 6,083 (2.4 per cent below the 12-month moving average for December 2019 and 5.9 per cent below that for January 2019)

* The total consideration for sale and purchase agreements in January was $29.0 billion (-17.1 per cent compared with December 2019 and -59.7 per cent compared with January 2019)

* Among the sale and purchase agreements, 2,762 were for residential units (-13.3 per cent compared with December 2019 and -39.2 per cent compared with January 2019)

* The total consideration for sale and purchase agreements in respect of residential units was $24.8 billion (-20.7 per cent compared with December 2019 and -44.8 per cent compared with January 2019)

     Statistics on sales of residential units do not include sale and purchase agreements relating to sales of units under the Home Ownership Scheme, the Private Sector Participation Scheme and the Tenants Purchase Scheme unless the premium of the unit concerned has been paid after the sale restriction period.

     Figures on sale and purchase agreements received for the past 12 months, the year-on-year rate of change and breakdown figures on residential sales have also been released.

     As deeds may not be lodged with the Land Registry until up to 30 days after the transaction, these statistics generally relate to land transactions in the previous month.
 
Land search
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* The number of searches of land registers made by the public in January was 342,191 (-6.4 per cent compared with December 2019 and -19.3 per cent compared with January 2019)

     The statistics cover searches made at the counter, through the self-service terminals and via the Integrated Registration Information System Online Services.

     The Department of Health (DH) today (February 4) urged members of the public to support World Cancer Day 2020 through leading a healthy lifestyle to prevent and control cancer.
 
     World Cancer Day has been designated for February 4 each year by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) since 2000 to increase community understanding of threats posed by cancer and to unite the global population in cancer prevention.
      
     The theme "I am and I will", being adopted for three consecutive years from 2019, means everyone has the power to reduce the impact of cancer for oneself, for their loved ones and for the world.
      
     A spokesman for the DH said that individuals can adopt a healthy lifestyle, such as being physically active, refraining from smoking and drinking alcohol, and consuming more vegetables and fruits as well as eating less red and processed meat, in order to prevent and reduce the risk of cancer.
      
     Cancer is the leading cause of death locally. In 2017, more than 33 000 new cancer cases were reported in Hong Kong, showing a rise of 1 600 more cases from the figure in 2016. The five most common types of cancers were colorectal cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer and liver cancer.
      
     "An unhealthy lifestyle is the leading cause of cancer. Studies have shown that about 40 per cent of cancer cases are preventable by adopting a healthy lifestyle," the spokesman said.
      
     Tobacco, alcohol, physical inactivity, an unhealthy diet and being overweight or obese are the major risk factors of cancer. Among them, tobacco is the single most important risk factor for cancer, as it leads to 90 per cent of lung cancers. Like tobacco, alcoholic beverages are also classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the World Health Organization (WHO).
      
     The WHO also estimated that about 21 to 25 per cent of breast cancer and colorectal cancer cases are mainly attributed to physical inactivity. An unhealthy diet and being overweight or obese can also increase the risk of a number of cancers.
      
     The Government promulgated the first Hong Kong Cancer Strategy in last July, with a view to reducing the cancer burden of the local population and improving the quality of life and survivorship of cancer patients through setting work priorities and directions.
      
     The Hong Kong Cancer Strategy is in line with "Towards 2025: Strategy and Action Plan to Prevent and Control Non-communicable Diseases in Hong Kong", which was published in May 2018, focusing on the four shared behavioural risk factors so as to reduce the burden caused by non-communicable diseases including cancer by 2025.
 
     The DH has fully implemented the Colorectal Cancer Screening Programme (CRCSP) (www.colonscreen.gov.hk) on January 1 and further extended its coverage to Hong Kong residents aged 50 to 75, i.e. those born in the years 1944 to 1970. The CRCSP heavily subsidises asymptomatic Hong Kong residents to undergo screening tests for colorectal cancer with no quota for participants.
 
     Moreover, the Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme under the Centre for Health Protection of the DH, from the 2019/20 school year, has started to provide eligible female primary school students with human papillomavirus vaccine to prevent cervical cancer.
      
     More information on World Cancer Day is available on the UICC's website (www.uicc.org/what-we-do/convening/world-cancer-day).

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Kowloon West Cluster (KWC) today (February 4) announced that the Mrs Wu York Yu General Out-patient Clinic (the Clinic) will resume service next Monday (February 10) at its original site at 310, Wo Yi Hop Road, Lei Muk Shue, Kwai Chung upon completion of renovation works. The service hours will remain unchanged (details are in the appended table).
      
     According to the spokesperson, due to the earlier renovation works, the service of the Clinic had been temporarily relocated to 5/F, Block C, Yan Chai Hospital since August 12 last year (2019). Following the resumption of clinic service at its original site, the clinic for temporary service relocation will cease operation with effect from the same day (February 10).
      
     Patients with chronic illnesses requiring regular follow-up have been informed and arranged follow-up appointments at the original clinic site. Patients with episodic illnesses can make appointments via the Telephone Appointment System (Telephone number: 3157 0108) as usual.
      
     "KWC has already informed the residents in the district on the service arrangement through various channels, including banner outside the renovation clinic and poster in the temporary service relocation clinic. Respective district council has also been informed. Reminder message will also be added to the Telephone Appointment System of the Mrs Wu York Yu General Out-patient Clinic to inform the public in a timely manner." the spokesperson added.