Speeches

Hong Kong Hereditary Breast Cancer Family Registry
Pink Ball 2017 “Bloom”
28 October 2017 (Saturday)

Speech by Prof. Sophia Chan,
Secretary for Food and Health

Dr [Ava] Kwong (Chairman of Hong Kong Hereditary Breast Cancer Family Registry), Mrs [Christine] Chan, Mrs [Karen] Chuang, Donors and Patrons, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

1. It is my pleasure to be here to celebrate the 10^th anniversary of the Hong Kong Hereditary Breast Cancer Family Registry.
2. Cancer is the No. 1 killer in Hong Kong, accounting for about one-third of all deaths in 2016. Breast cancer has been the most common cancer among women with a rising trend since the early 1990s.
3. Combating cancer has always been one of the Government’s top priorities. The Government has established the Cancer Coordinating Committee, which I chair, to formulate comprehensive strategies and make recommendations for prevention and control of cancer in Hong Kong. Under the Committee, the Cancer Expert Working Group on Cancer Prevention and Screening was set up to review local and international evidence on cancer prevention and screening in order to provide evidence-based recommendations. In this connection, I would wish to take this opportunity to thank Dr Ava Kwong, as one of the Committee members, for her participation and advice on screening for breast cancer and other hereditary cancers.
4. The Government has been promoting healthy lifestyles, encouraging breastfeeding and promoting breast awareness to the general population. Apart from personal lifestyles, genetic mutation and family history are strong known predictive risk factors of breast cancer.
5. Established since 2007, the Hong Kong Hereditary Breast Cancer Family Registry has contributed significantly to the provision of free access of genetic screening and consultation for the underprivileged and for patients and their families with high risk of breast, ovarian and other hereditary cancers. The valuable preventive measures of the Registry through data collection, research specific to Chinese or Asian population, public education, counselling and supportive care services play an instrumental role in enhancing our understanding and management of breast cancer in Hong Kong.
6. This year marks the 10^th anniversary of the establishment of the Registry in the fight against hereditary cancers. I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Registry for its continuous efforts for promoting the health of our female population in Hong Kong. With the government’s efforts, the remarkable contribution of the Registry and the unfailing support of other stakeholders in the community, I am sure we can continue to achieve significant advancement in our battle against hereditary cancers in Hong Kong.
7. As the Secretary for Food and Health, to safeguard public health, provide quality medical services, ensure food safety and environmental hygiene will be top priorities on my agenda. My team and I will continue to work hard for the betterment of Hong Kong. I also look forward to your continued support in cancer prevention and control. Thank you.