The Organization

The Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society was founded and registered in March 1963 and incorporated in October the following year. It is devoted to the following main aims and objectives:

1. To promote, co-ordinate and undertake activities against cancer, which include cancer research, cancer education to the public and the medical profession;
2. To promote, co-ordinate and undertake relief work for cancer sufferers and their dependents; and
3. To provide medical facilities for the diagnosis, treatment and general care of cancer patients according to the needs of the territory.

Sources of Funding

The Society is a member agency of the Community Chest of Hong Kong. Funds allocated each year are used to meet partially the operating expenses of the Society's Administration, Cancer Education and the Recreational & Diversional Therapy Unit. All other activities of the Society are funded by public donations.

Committees

The Executive Committee, which is empowered to delegate specific responsibility and authority to its Sub-committees namely, controls the management and administration of the Society: Hospice Care Development, Cancer Education and Betterment Fund.

The Functions

Hospital Service

Nam Long Hospital, built with funds raised entirely by the Society for the exclusive care of cancer patients, started operation in May, 1967 with an initial complement of 120 beds, which was increased to 180 beds in 1978. A hospice care programme was established in 1987 to provide total patient care to the terminally ill. Holistic approach of hospice care is delivered through multi-disciplinary teamwork. Since 1989 more than 30% of the hospital beds have been designated for the provision of hospice care. In April 1998, a 20-bed hospice ward was opened for admission.

The Hospital was operated on a deficiency grant, subvented by the Hospital Services Department until December 1991 when the Hospital joined the Hospital Authority. Under the management of the Hospital Authority, a Hospital Governing Committee comprising more than one half of the members nominated by the Society's Executive Committee, has been formed to oversee the management of Nam Long Hospital.

Hospice Care The Hospice Care Development Sub-committee facilitates the development of hospice care service in Hong Kong by organizing training courses and workshops for hospice care professionals, enhancing the bereavement service of Nam Long Hospital and participating in hospice care promotion activities to arouse public awareness. The Sub-committee advises the hospice care team of the Hospital in the delivery of quality service. Cancer Education The Cancer Education Sub-committee promotes cancer knowledge by organizing exhibitions, talks and courses for the public and medical professionals, publishing information pamphlets on cancers, providing source material on the Society's Homepage.

Betterment Fund for Cancer Patients

The Betterment Fund for Cancer Patients Sub-committee manages this Fund to provide financial assistance to individual cancer patients for non-basic needs and to support group activities organized for patients. Applications are submitted by social workers on patients' behalf, screened and approved individually on its own merit by the Sub-committee. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and the Brewin Trust Fund are currently the main sources of funding.

Cancer Research

The Society promotes and sponsors cancer research. In recent years, the fields of research have been concentrated on cancers commonly found in Hong Kong, such as lung cancer and nasopharyngeal carcinoma.