Health Status

Hong Kong's health indices compare favourably with those of most developed countries. The infant mortality rate, one of the most important indicators of health, has been declining over the past two decades and reached as low as 2.4 per thousand live births in 2002. Maternal mortality ratio has remained low for the past two decades. In 2002, there were only two cases of maternal deaths reported, giving a maternal mortality ratio of 4.2 per hundred thousand live births. Longevity has also improved significantly for Hong Kong people over the years. On average, a baby boy born in 2002 could expect to live 78.7 years and a baby girl 84.7 years. Life expectancy at birth is projected to reach 82 for men and 88 for women in 2031.

    Health problems in Hong Kong are mostly associated with lifestyle-related chronic degenerative diseases. The three leading causes of death are cancers, heart diseases and cerebrovascular disease. Together, they accounted for approximately 58 per cent of all deaths. These diseases affect mainly elderly people and will continue to dominate the mortality statistics as the population ages.

Infectious Diseases

Hong Kong lists 27 statutory notifiable infectious diseases, including three quarantinable diseases, namely cholera, plague and yellow fever. In 2002, 25 412 cases of notifiable infectious diseases were reported, of which 26.2 per cent were due to tuberculosis.

    Children in Hong Kong are immunised against tuberculosis, hepatitis B, poliomyelitis, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, mumps and rubella. Owing to high vaccine coverage, diseases such as diphtheria and poliomyelitis have been virtually eradicated and the incidence of other vaccine-preventable infectious diseases among children is relatively low.

    At the end of 2002, the cumulative number of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) infection and AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) cases reported had exceeded 1 900 and 600, respectively. Each year about 200 new cases of HIV infection are diagnosed. Sexual transmission remains the most common mode of the spread of the infection, though in recent years there has been growing concern over reports of HIV infection in injection drug users.