Chronic hepatitis B is one of the commonest liver diseases in Chinese population. The prevalence of chronic hepatitis B carrier is 5.6% in Hong Kong, accounting to about 410000 people. Among them, only about 30% are receiving regular medical follow-ups. (1) Although most carriers are asymptomatic, a significant portion may develop disastrous complications including acute liver failure, cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Studies have estimated that the life-time risks of liver-related death in Chinese men and women are 40-50% and 15% respectively. (2) Early liver cancer is asymptomatic and can only be detected by screening. Nowadays early liver cancer carries favourable prognosis with treatment. Therefore regular interval follow-ups are of paramount importance to mitigate these risks.