Cancer is a major public health problem both globally and locally. In Hong Kong, the burden of cancer has been increasing along with the growing and ageing population. In 2022, the Hong Kong Cancer Registry recorded more than 35 000 new cancer cases. Cancer is also the top killer in Hong Kong with nearly 15 000 registered deaths attributed to cancer in 2023.
The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region attaches great importance to cancer prevention and control and set up the Cancer Coordinating Committee (CCC), chaired by the Secretary for Health, in 2001 to steer the direction of work and advise on the strategies for cancer prevention and control in Hong Kong. In 2002, the Cancer Expert Working Group on Cancer Prevention and Screening (CEWG) was set up under the CCC to review local and international scientific evidence, and formulate local recommendations on cancer prevention and screening.  The CEWG has so far formulated local recommendations on prevention and screening of 11 common cancers in Hong Kong (namely cervical, colorectal, breast, prostate, lung, liver, nasopharyngeal, thyroid, ovarian, pancreatic and stomach cancers).
In July 2019, the Government launched the Hong Kong Cancer Strategy with a view to reducing the cancer burden of the local population and improving the quality of life and survivorship of cancer patients, through identifying service gaps and setting strategic priorities and direction for the possible stages throughout a patient's complex journey, from prevention and screening, early detection and diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, to palliative care.
According to the World Health Organization, between 30 and 50% of cancers can be prevented by avoiding risk factors and implementing existing evidence-based prevention strategies. To reduce the burden of cancer, the Government advocates healthy lifestyle (such as refraining from smoking and alcohol consumption, being physically active, having a balanced diet, and maintaining a healthy body weight and waist circumference) as a primary prevention strategy and adopts an evidence-based approach in the implementation of cancer screening programmes. This presentation will provide an overview of cancer prevention and screening in Hong Kong including the screening programmes that have been implemented for cervical cancer, colorectal cancer and breast cancer.

Liver cancer ranked as the 5th most common cancer and was the 3rd leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Hong Kong in 2022. Chronic hepatitis B infection (CHB) is the most significant risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) locally, accounting for 75-80% of cases. The lifetime risk of developing HCC among patients with CHB is estimated to be between 10-25%, representing more than a ten-fold increase compared to uninfected individuals. 


Preventing HBV infection is therefore the critical strategy for reducing the incidence of liver cancer. To that end, universal neonatal hepatitis B vaccination has proven to be the most effective tool in reducing mother-to-child transmission of HBV, the major transmission route responsible for the majority of CHB cases, contributing to a decrease in the incidence of hepatic events and HCC. In addition to vaccination, early detection and management of CHB are equally vital. 


Although the prevalence of HBV infection in the general population has declined from over 10% in the early 1980s to 5.6% in 2020-22, challenges on prevention and control of HBV infection remains, given the substantial size of population (about 410 000 people) living hepatitis B who are mostly aged 40 or above. This presentation will review the series of interventions implemented in Hong Kong since the 1980s, introduce new initiatives set out in the First Hong Kong Viral Hepatitis Action Plan 2020-2024, and elaborate on the strategic shifts and broadened scope of actions in the upcoming Action Plan 2025-2030, with the ultimate aim to further alleviate the public health burden posed by CHB.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination has included in the Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme since the 2019/20 school year for Primary Five and Six female students. In line with the latest World Health Organization recommendations, the Department of Health (DH) launched a one-off catch-up programme for HPV vaccination (the Programme) in December 2024 which aims to gradually boost the herd immunity of the community against high-risk HPV infection, thereby preventing cervical cancer. The Programme will last for about two years and will be implemented in three phases.


The first phase provided free vaccines to female students studying at full-time secondary schools (including the secondary section of special schools) who were in Form Five or above and registered with eHealth. As of April 1, over 510 schools (approximately 98 % of eligible schools) have responded or indicated their participation. Among these, nearly 280 schools have already conducted vaccination activities, with over 14 000 doses administered. Counting doses administered under the Programme and self-arranged vaccinations, the first-dose HPV vaccine coverage rate is over 70 per cent.


The second phase, which targets female Hong Kong residents studying in local post-secondary institutions or universities who were born between 2004 and 2008, was launched in March 2025.


The third phase of the Programme will start in the first half of 2025. Targeted recipients are female Hong Kong residents born between 2004 and 2008 who have already completed their studies in Hong Kong. This phase will also cover the remaining female Hong Kong residents born between 2004 and 2008 who have not yet completed their HPV vaccination. Details will be announced in due course.


This presentation will discuss the implementation of the Programme and the coverage of HPV vaccination in Hong Kong.