Acting Secretary for Health chairs 20th meeting of Cancer Coordinating Committee
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.
Acting Secretary for Health chairs 20th meeting of Cancer Coordinating Committee Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Acting Secretary for Health chairs 20th meeting of Cancer Coordinating Committee Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CFS to follow up certain batches of powdered infant and young children formula with possible presence of Cereulide produced by Bacillus cereus
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (January 10) said that, it took initiative to meet with Nestlé Hong Kong again today, and confirmed the company's today announcement of an additional batch of powdered infant and young children formula suspected to have possibly used the raw material concerned. Nestlé Hong Kong has voluntarily stopped sales, removed from shelves the affected products and has initiated a precautionary recall. The CFS has collected samples of powdered infant and young children formula from the market for Bacillus cereus testing, the test results so far were satisfactory. The Environmental and Ecology Bureau is also closely monitoring the supply situation of other formula milk powder and maintaining communication with other major suppliers. It is noted that there is sufficient formula milk powder to meet the demand.
The spokesman said, the CFS has been actively following up on Nestlé company's voluntary and precautionary recalls of certain batches of its powdered infant and young children formula in certain areas in Europe due to possible presence of Cereulide produced by Bacillus cereus in the individual raw material. According to the latest information from Nestlé Hong Kong today, an additional batch of its powdered infant and young children formula imported into Hong Kong might have used the raw material concerned. The CFS had earlier enhanced surveillance in the market and collected a sample from the above batch for testing of Bacillus cereus. The test result of the sample was satisfactory. Nevertheless, as a precautionary measure, Nestlé Hong Kong has voluntarily stopped sales, removed from shelves the affected products and has initiated a precautionary recall.
Product details are as follows:
Product name (Net weight): NAN PRO 1 2 HMO (800g)
Batch number: 51670742F2
Best-before date: June 16, 2027
Place of Origin: Germany
"The CFS met Nestlé Hong Kong again today, urging them to properly handle the product recall issue and respond to public enquiries, in order to safeguard consumers' legitimate rights and interests. In addition, the CFS and Nestlé Hong Kong have jointly followed up, six suspected affected batches of infant and young children formula products that had not entered the market were marked and sealed. An additional 15 batches are currently en route to Hong Kong and will also be marked and sealed upon arrival. The CFS will continue to closely monitor the recall matters and remain fully committed to ensuring food safety, " the spokesman said.
Nestlé Hong Kong has initiated a recall of the affected batches of the products concerned. For enquiries about the recall, members of the public may contact the company through the following channels:
Consumer services hotline: 2599 8874 / 2797 6031/ 2179 8136 (Monday to Sunday, 9am to 9pm)
Email: consumerservices@hk.nestle.com
WhatsApp: 5283 4139 (NESTLÉ® NAN®) / 2599 8871 (Wyeth® Nutrition)
Online form: forms.office.com/e/BhqMhWfsUG?origin=lprLink
Consumers may choose to bring along the products (brand new or opened) for refund at place of purchase, or at exclusive service counters of Nestlé Nutrition Services from January 13 (Tuesday) onwards, to settle the recall and refund of the batches of the products concerned. Details of the exclusive service counters are as follows:
Kowloon Services Counter
Address: G/F, Park Hovan Commercial Building, 18 Hillwood Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon (MTR Jordon Station Exit D)
Contact number: 3996 8196
Office hour: Monday to Saturday, 11am to 7.30pm; Sunday, 1pm to 5.30pm (except public holidays)
Hong Kong Services Counter
Address: 1/F, Ka Nin Wah Commercial Building, 423-425 Hennessy Road, Hong Kong (MTR Causeway Bay Station Exit B)
Contact number: 3996 8197
Office hour: Monday to Saturday, 11am to 7.30pm (except Sundays and public holidays)
The CFS, through its Food Incident Surveillance System, noted earlier that certain batches of Nestlé powdered infant formula were being voluntarily recalled in Europe due to possible contamination with Bacillus cereus. Upon learning of the incident, the CFS has immediately initiated follow up actions, published food incident posts to inform the public and the trade about the issue, and has been actively following up on the incident and enhanced surveillance.
Over the past three days (as of 4pm on January 9), the FEHD received a total of 18 food complaints and enquiries suspected to be related to the infant and young children formula products, including one anonymous complaint without contact information. The CFS and the Environmental Hygiene Branch have promptly followed up on all cases, including contacting the parties concerned to obtain details and collecting samples for testing. In addition, the CFS has referred the cases to the health department for follow-up. At present, no food poisoning cases related to the formula have been recorded.
Bacillus cereus is commonly found in the environment. Unhygienic conditions in food processing and storage may give rise to its growth. Cereulide is a heat-stable toxin produced in food by some strains of Bacillus cereus. Consuming food contaminated with excessive Bacillus cereus or its heat-stable toxins may cause gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting and diarrhoea.
The spokesman urged members of the public not to let infants and young children consume the affected batches of the products, and to seek medical treatment for infants or young children who felt unwell after taking the products concerned. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected batches of the products immediately.
"The CFS continues to closely monitor the developments of the situation, follow up and take appropriate action," the spokesman said.
Source: AI-found images
