Colorectal cancer screening in Hong Kong: investment of more resources needed to strengthen screening services and inform governmental policy.

The global incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) is one million per year with a high annual mortality of more than 500 000.1 It accounts for a substantial public health burden and is the leading cause of years of potential life lost.2 It is becoming more common in many western nations and there is evidence that it increasingly affects Asian populations, including that of Hong Kong.3 Locally, there are approximately 4000 cases of CRC diagnosed each year. The agestandardised incidence rates were 45.8 for males and 30.5 for females, respectively, per 10 000 standardised population in 20084 as compared to around 3000 new cases a decade ago. Moreover, its incidence in Asia Pacific countries is now comparable to western countries like Canada, the United States, and in Europe.