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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1987
BATTLE AGAINST CANCER PRIMARY CONCERN OF MEDICAL AUTHORITIES
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THE BATTLE AGAINST CANCER HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE PRIMARY CONCERN OF HONG KONG'S MEDICAL AUTHORITIES, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, MR DAVID FORD, SAID THIS (MONDAY) MORNING.
SPEAKING AT A SYMPOSIUM ON RECENT ADVANCES IN CANCER MANAGEMENT ORGANISED BY THE EUROPEAN ORGANISATION FOR RESEARCH AND TREATMENT OF CANCER, MR FORD SAID THE DISEASE HAD BEEN THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN HONG KONG SINCE 1964, ACCOUNTING FOR OVER 8,000 DEATHS OR 31 PER CENT OF ALL DEATHS LAST YEAR.
MR FORD NOTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT PLANNED TO DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF ONCOLOGY AND RADIOTHERAPY BEDS OVER THE NEXT EIGHT YEARS.
"WE ALSO HAVE PRIOR PLANS ΤΟ BRING IN ADDITIONAL TREATMENT FACILITIES TO COPE WITH THE PROBLEM AND NEXT YEAR HONG KONG'S FIRST BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT UNIT WILL BE COMMISSIONED IN THE NEW EXTENSION TO QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL, HE SAID.
MR FORD ADDED THAT IT WAS ALSO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S POLICY TO ADOPT PREVENTIVE MEASURES.
"FOR EXAMPLE, IN ORDER TO REDUCE FUTURE INCIDENCE OF LIVER CANCER, WE HAVE A VACCINATION PROGRAMME FOR BABIES BORN TO MOTHERS WHO ARE HEPATITIS B CARRIERS.
"WE ALSO GIVE STRONG EMPHASIS ON ANTI-SMOKING EDUCATION AND CAMPAIGNS, FOR THE PURPOSE OF REDUCING THE RISK OF LUNG CANCER TO THE POPULATION," HE SAID.
MR FORD SAID THE SMOKING (PUBLIC HEALTH) ORDINANCE WAS ENACTED IN 1982 TO PRESCRIBE NON-SMOKING AREAS IN PUBLIC PLACES AND IMPOSE HEALTH WARNINGS IN CIGARETTE ADVERTISING.
PUBLICITY CAMPAIGNS, MR
AFTER A SERIES OF MAJOR ANTI-SMOKING FORD SAID A GENERAL HOUSEHOLD SURVEY IN 1986 SHOWED A 20 PER CENT DROP IN THE NUMBER OF SMOKERS WHEN COMPARED WITH 1982.
HE ALSO SAID A COUNCIL ON SMOKING AND HEALTH HAS JUST BEEN ESTABLISHED то PROPOSE, CO-ORDINATE AND INITIATE ANTI-SMOKING
MEASURES.
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