Hong Kong must meet the modern-day challenges of longevity

The increasing longevity of its citizens has kept Hong Kong at or close to the top of global life expectancy rankings for years now. So it comes as a reality check that over the decade to 2013 the number of deaths due to cancer confounded the trend, rising by 18 per cent, or 1.4 per cent a year, and accounting for nearly one in three of 43,399 deaths in 2013.

It may make sense to argue that if people age more it has to be expected that the incidence of cancer will rise. But that is not necessarily so. Many cancer-related deaths in Hong Kong are preventable by healthier diets and exercise along with regular physical check-ups, according to Dr Daniel Chua Tsin-tien.

It follows that many premature deaths from other lifestyle-related causes such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes are similarly preventable.

Over 10 years to 2012 the number of cancer patients grew by 27 per cent, or 2.5 per cent a year to a record of 27,848 in 2012. Chua, associate director of radiotherapy at Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital, says the rise is alarming, with lung, colorectal, breast, liver and prostate cancer accounting for 60 per cent of all new cases. He believes the city will continue to report high rates of breast and colorectal cancer due to an increasingly affluent society, with lifestyle habits such as diets rich in high-calorie meat and fast food being major factors.

Hong Kong reflects the wider Asian experience. Singapore consultant oncologist Dr Hsieh Wen-son says the city-state and other developed Asian cities face similar challenges from increased incidence of the same cancers compared with the US and European countries.

Officials naturally cite life expectancy as one of Hong Kong's attractions as a place to live and work. But those living healthily into their 70s and 80s now are the product of times less stressful, jobs more physical and food and air healthier. If robust longevity is to be maintained, greater effort is needed to educate younger generations about healthy lifestyles and to clean up the air we breathe.