Health secretary Lo Chung-mau on Thursday highlighted AI's role in strengthening Hong Kong's efforts in cancer management.

Speaking at a plenary session of the World Cancer Congress, he noted that the SAR has been making significant progress in cancer control and prevention.

For instance, the age-standardised cancer mortality rate fell by over 40 percent in the past three decades.

The annual rate dropped by 2.8 percent and 1.7 percent for men and women respectively over the past decade.

Screening programmes, meanwhile, have allowed patients to get treated earlier, Lo said.

The government has also worked on ways to prevent cancer such as vaccination programmes and anti-tobacco measures, the health chief said, resulting in a historic low smoking rate of 8.5 percent from about 23 percent in the 1980s.

Looking ahead, authorities will strengthen management through biotechnology and policy intervention.

“AI holds enormous promise for earlier detection, accurate diagnosis and efficient care delivery,” Lo said.

“But it must be introduced carefully, ethically, and in a way that complements rather than replaces the judgement of clinicians.”

He went on to say that the SAR will ensure the technology is adopted in a coordinated manner with proper governance, so that patients will benefit safely and equitably.

The SAR will also utilise its advantage of connecting the mainland and the world to promote healthcare collaboration and continue to play a part in the nation’s healthcare development, Lo added.

The World Cancer Congress – that was organised in collaboration with the Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society this year – was staged in the city for the first time ever.

The three-day event at the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai will run until Saturday.


Edited by Aaron Tam