kakase/hk_gov_press_release huggingface dataset:
S for Health congratulates Dr Cecilia Fan on being recognised as one of National Outstanding Individuals in Foreign Medical Aid (with photos)
29.12.2023

The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, and the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam, attended a national recognition ceremony for outstanding individuals in foreign medical aid in Beijing today (December 29) to witness Consultant (Family Medicine) of the Department of Health (DH) Dr Cecilia Fan being recognised by the country for her participation in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) search and rescue team's work in quake-stricken T&uuml;rkiye. Dr Fan led a four-member medical team of the DH to join the 59-strong search and rescue team formed by the HKSAR government departments to assist in the search and rescue work in the quake-stricken areas in T&uuml;rkiye in February this year. Professor Lo said, "With my heartfelt congratulations to Dr Fan, I am very excited to witness an HKSAR healthcare professional receiving recognition by the country for her fearlessness and dedication to saving lives. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the dispatch of Chinese medical teams abroad. President Xi Jinping said that foreign medical aid illustrates our country's love for peace and cherishment for lives, and also makes greater contributions to the building of a global community of health for all. Healthcare professionals of the HKSAR will continue to give full play to their strengths, serve the country's needs and contribute to the country's foreign medical aid. "Dr Fan demonstrated excellent leadership and emergency response ability, facilitating efficient operation. The post-disaster situation on the ground posed great challenges to the search and rescue team, but the medical team led by Dr Fan displayed perseverance, bravery and fearlessness, while holding fast to professionalism, thereby serving as a role model for the healthcare professionals of the HKSAR to participate in the country's foreign medical aid." Professor Lo will return to Hong Kong tonight. During his absence, the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, acts as the Secretary for Health.
Transcript of remarks by S for Health on mental health support hotline
27.12.2023

Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau; the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Mental Health (ACMH), Dr Lam Ching-choi; and the former Chairman of the ACMH, Mr Wong Yan-lung, SC, at a media session after officiating at the kick-off ceremony of the Mental Health Support Hotline this afternoon (December 27): Reporter: How do you expect the public's demand for the hotline service? Are you worried that there will not be enough manpower handling a large amount of calls? The second question is, for those who are not willing to seek help through the hotline, how can the Government provide help to them or prevent the mental health issues from worsening? Secretary for Health: We understand that mental health is not a simple medical issue. It is a problem which requires cross-bureau, cross-disciplined support to improve the mental health of our people. For this hotline, I have very conflicting thoughts on the future demand. Of course, we want to make sure that those who need the service will call the line, and we will have very good response from the public. On the other hand, we obviously want to see that the mental health problem is not worsening. Our service provider has a very flexible approach in the service. It provides a 24-hour, real-time, person-to-person response to any call. We have at least six staff members on the line at any time. If there is any surge in demand at any particular time, there will be on-call service for that. We want to ensure that we can cope with the service demand in case there is a need. Former Chairman of ACMH: The Government is expecting more people calling this hotline upon the launch, so additional manpower is in place. However, there is also an automatic system. If, for any reason, nobody answers the call, it will be recorded. I think that, within half an hour, there will be someone calling back so as to make sure that each caller will receive a response. I think that will be important. You also mentioned the additional measures to reach out to the people who are reluctant to call. I think that it is absolutely valid. That is why the hotline is only one of the many measures to be taken. It is an important one, but at the same time for those who are more reluctant, like those who are carers and those who are reluctant to seek help because of the issues they are suffering, I think that we have to reach out to them proactively. For example, I did mention that we can do more outreach work at the clinics while carers and patients are waiting at the lobbies outside clinics. There will be people reaching out to them, with more information provided to them. I think that this is one of the measures that we can take, but we have to be proactive to reach out to these people. I just want to mention that those who are English-speaking can also call this hotline. There are some arrangements in place for interpretation service. Necessary and appropriate referral will be put in place. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
18th Joint Meeting of Senior Health Officials of Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao held in Hong Kong (with photos)
18.12.2023

The 18th Joint Meeting of the Senior Health Officials of the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao (Joint Meeting) was held today (December 18) in Hong Kong. The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, welcomed and expressed his heartfelt thanks to Vice-minister of the National Health Commission Mr Lei Haichao and the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), Ms Ao Ieong U, for participating in the meeting held in Hong Kong with their delegations. The Joint Meeting has all along been a platform for senior medical and health officials, and experts from the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao to exchange views, share experiences and enhance co-operation on present-day medical and public health issues. The Joint Meeting is hosted by the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao in rotation. Members of the three delegations today engaged in sharing and discussions covering three major issues, namely cross-boundary medical co-operation, prevention and control of emerging infectious diseases and primary healthcare in the community. Professor Lo and Vice-minister Lei also signed a medical- and healthcare-related co-operation arrangement at the Joint Meeting. Professor Lo said that the meeting consolidated the seamless and solid collaboration among the three places, driving the formulation of long-term and sustainable healthcare policies under the joint effort of three health authorities for safeguarding the wellbeing of the citizens of the three places and contributing to the overall development of the nation's "Healthy China" strategy. Members of the Hong Kong SAR Government delegation included the Permanent Secretary for Health, Mr Thomas Chan; the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam; the Chairman of the Hospital Authority (HA), Mr Henry Fan; and the Chief Executive of the HA, Dr Tony Ko.
DH's Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office organises Annual Training Programme on Tobacco Control 2023 (with photos)
7.12.2023

The Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) of the Department of Health (DH) organised the Annual Training Programme on Tobacco Control 2023 from December 4 to December 8, and the closing ceremony was held today (December 7). In April 2012, the DH was designated by the World Health Organization (WHO) to set up the Collaborating Centre for Smoking Cessation and Treatment of Tobacco Dependence in Hong Kong to serve as a regional hub supporting smoking cessation training and providing assistance to other member states/regions within the Western Pacific region. The Annual Training Programme on Tobacco Control (the Programme) is structured according to the tobacco control measures introduced by the WHO with participants from countries/areas including Mainland China, Macao, China, Malaysia, Republic of Palau, Papua New Guinea, etc participating in the training. Through sharing of valuable experiences in tobacco control by 10 overseas and local experts, participants were able to master tobacco control techniques and strategies in areas such as legislation, law enforcement, publicity and promotion, as well as the development of smoking cessation services and assessments to a further extent. Moreover, through visiting community-based smoking cessation clinics, participants could learn more about smoking cessation services in Hong Kong. The closing ceremony was officiated by Vice-minister of the National Health Commission Mr Yu Xuejun. Mr Yu hailed the Programme as a great success, and praised the DH for its positive contribution to promoting tobacco control policies and implementing relevant measures. He also expressed the Chinese Government's wishes to collaborate on the efforts with the WHO and other countries and areas within the Western Pacific region through enhanced co-operation in the area of tobacco control, especially on academic exchanges and research. The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, and the Director of the Division of Healthy Environments and Populations of the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Dr Hiromasa Okayasu, also praised the success of the Programme in their closing remarks.
Secretary for Health meets National Health Commission delegation (with photos)
7.12.2023

The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, met with a delegation led by Vice-minister of the National Health Commission (NHC) Mr Yu Xuejun today (December 7) to introduce to them the latest updates in the healthcare policies of Hong Kong and exchange views on strengthening medical collaboration between the Mainland and Hong Kong. Professor Lo said, "After the COVID-19 epidemic, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and various Mainland provinces and cities have been engaging in closer and more frequent exchanges and co-operation on healthcare development than ever. Such exchanges and co-operation help promote regional healthcare development. We will continue to strive for the strengthening and deepening of co-operation with the Mainland under the principle of complementarity and mutual benefits, with a view to levelling up the quality and efficiency of the healthcare services in both places, while rallying concerted efforts to build a 'Healthy Hong Kong' for integration into the nation's strategy of a 'Healthy China', thereby contributing to the development of the Greater Bay Area and that of the country as a whole." In the afternoon, Professor Lo and Mr Yu attended the closing ceremony of the Annual Training Programme on Tobacco Control 2023 organised by the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office of the Department of Health (DH). Addressing the closing ceremony, Professor Lo said, "The HKSAR Government is committed to progressively lowering the smoking prevalence from 9.5 per cent at present to 7.8 per cent by 2025. Having consulted citizens earlier on the tobacco control strategies for the next phase, the Government is now consolidating the views collected to derive a consensus on the future tobacco control strategies to be formulated. Our goal is to work with members of the public to build a more vibrant, healthier and tobacco-free society and stride as one towards the vision of a vibrant, healthy and tobacco-free Hong Kong, thereby safeguarding public health as well as rooting out the serious health and economic burden brought about by tobacco to society." In April 2012, the DH was designated by the World Health Organization (WHO) to set up the Collaborating Centre for Smoking Cessation and Treatment of Tobacco Dependence in Hong Kong, to serve as a regional hub supporting smoking cessation training and providing assistance to other member states/regions within the Western Pacific Region. The Annual Training Programme on Tobacco Control, which is structured according to the tobacco control measures formulated by the WHO, enables participants to master tobacco control techniques and strategies in areas such as legislation, law enforcement, publicity and promotion, as well as the development of smoking cessation services and assessments to a further extent through overseas and local experts' sharing of their valuable experience in tobacco control work. The Under Secretary for Health, Dr Libby Lee, and the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam, also attended the exchange activities today.
Health Bureau and General Administration of Customs of People's Republic of China sign Co-operation Arrangement for Entry-exit Health Inspection and Quarantine (with photo)
28.11.2023

The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, met Vice Minister of General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC) Ms Lv Weihong today (November 28). The two parties also signed the Co-operation Arrangement for Entry-exit Health Inspection and Quarantine between the GACC and the Health Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (Co-operation Arrangement). Professor Lo said, "I would like to express my gratitude to the GACC for its support to the signing of the Co-operation Arrangement. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has all along been maintaining close co-operation with the entry-exit health inspection and quarantine authorities of the Mainland to safeguard the wellbeing and safety of residents and travellers of the two places. People of the Mainland and the HKSAR have been engaging in more frequent exchanges ever since the full resumption of normal travel between the two places after the COVID-19 epidemic. Having consolidated experiences in the prevention and control of infectious diseases such as COVID-19, the GACC and the Health Bureau will further strengthen the joint efforts in disease prevention and control in terms of entry-exit health inspection and quarantine between the Mainland and Hong Kong through the Co-operation Arrangement, with a view to facilitating the smooth operation of the communication and collaboration mechanisms between the two parties." At the meeting, Professor Lo and Ms Lv also exchanged views on issues of mutual concern including entry-exit health inspection and quarantine as well as the Policy Address initiative regarding the discussion with other Greater Bay Area cities on the provision of direct cross-boundary ambulance service. Today's meeting was another occasion where Professor Lo met with leaders of the GACC within a short period of time after his last visit to the GACC in Beijing in early November. The Permanent Secretary for Health, Mr Thomas Chan; the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam; Deputy Secretary for Health Mr Sam Hui; the Controller of the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health, Dr Edwin Tsui; and the Director of Cluster Services of the Hospital Authority, Dr Simon Tang, also attended the meeting today.
Secretary for Health attends Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Health Cooperation Conference (with photos)
10.11.2023

The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, led a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) delegation to attend the 3rd Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) Health Cooperation Conference in Nansha, Guangzhou, today (November 10). Co-organised by the Health Commission of Guangdong Province, the Health Bureau of the HKSAR Government, the Health Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government and the People's Government of Guangzhou Municipality, the Conference aims to promote exchanges and co-operation in the healthcare area in the GBA. Professor Lo said, "Under the theme of 'Exceptional Beginning, Strategic Planning and High Quality', participants of the three places discussed important issues including healthcare innovation development and service quality improvement at the Conference. The HKSAR Government will continue to foster co-operation with other cities in the GBA and achieve mutual benefits under the principles of 'complementarity and mutual benefits' and on the premise of benefitting the healthcare development of Hong Kong and these cities." Professor Lo will continue to attend the Conference tomorrow morning (November 11) and conduct in-depth exchanges on the key issues outlined in the "The Chief Executive's 2023 Policy Address", such as developing Hong Kong into a health and medical innovation hub and further strengthening cross-boundary medical collaboration. Members of the Hong Kong delegation include the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam; Deputy Secretary for Health Mr Sam Hui; the Chairman of the Hospital Authority (HA), Mr Henry Fan; and the Chief Executive of the HA, Dr Tony Ko. Professor Lo will visit the Shenzhen Park of Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone tomorrow afternoon. During his absence, the Under Secretary for Health, Dr Libby Lee, will be the Acting Secretary for Health.
Secretary for Health meets Zhongshan Municipal People's Government delegation (with photos)
9.11.2023

The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, met with a delegation of the Zhongshan Municipal People's Government led by Vice Mayor Mr Ye Hongguang today (November 9) to exchange views on healthcare policies in Hong Kong, including primary healthcare and elderly healthcare services. At the meeting, Professor Lo introduced to the delegation the current situation and the vision of primary healthcare in Hong Kong, as well as the enhanced measures on healthcare services taken to cope with the challenges brought about by an ageing population and the prevalence of chronic diseases. Professor Lo said, "Zhongshan is a popular location for Hong Kong elderly persons to retire. By stepping up the communication with Mainland cities, it will help us in providing better support to the healthcare needs of those elderly who reside in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). "The Chief Executive stated in his 2023 Policy Address the strengthening of medical collaboration with the Mainland for making contributions to the national strategy of 'Healthy China'. With the construction and development of the GBA, the connectivity of Hong Kong and other cities in the GBA has been greatly enhanced with a growing cross-boundary people flow and deepening co-operation to press ahead the high-quality development of the GBA. In regard to medical collaboration, there is also ample room for further co-operation between the Mainland and Hong Kong for improving the healthcare services offered to people of both places. Under the principles of complementarity and mutual benefits, as well as on the premise of benefiting healthcare development on the Mainland and in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will continue to propel medical innovation and collaboration between the two places, in particular with Mainland cities in the GBA, with a view to enhancing the quality of healthcare services of the two places." Deputy Secretary for Health Mr Eddie Lee; the Commissioner for Primary Healthcare of the Health Bureau, Dr Pang Fei-chau; and the Acting Assistant Director of Health (Elderly Health), Dr Yonnie Lam, also attended the meeting today.
Secretary for Health calls on National Medical Products Administration (with photo)
8.11.2023

The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, and his delegation called on the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) on their last day of visit to Beijing today (November 8). Professor Lo and his delegation met with Deputy Commissioner of the NMPA Mr Zhao Junning. The two parties exchanged views on boosting closer collaboration between the Mainland and Hong Kong on matters such as approval of drugs and medical devices, and clinical trial work. Professor Lo introduced the announcement of developing Hong Kong into a health and medical innovation hub by the Chief Executive in the Policy Address last month, with an aim to establish a drug approval authority based on "Primary Evaluation" in the long run. Professor Lo said, "The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will leverage the city's medical strengths in a more proactive and efficient manner. The specific measures to establish a drug approval authority based on 'Primary Evaluation' in the long run include the set-up of a preparatory office for the Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation; accession to the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use; the establishment of the Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Institute; promotion of clinical research and trials under the Hospital Authority (HA); and the establishment of the new '1+' mechanism for expediting the approval of new drugs."â "We anticipate to attract more local, Mainland and overseas pharmaceutical and medical device enterprises to conduct research and development and clinical trials in Hong Kong, and build up the capacity, recognition and status to ensure that the eventual approval mechanism of drugs and medical devices of Hong Kong would be widely recognised internationally and by the Mainland. As such, we have rolled out/will roll out a series of measures." Members of the delegation include the Permanent Secretary for Health, Mr Thomas Chan; the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam; the Chairman of the HA, Mr Henry Fan; and the Chief Executive of the HA, Dr Tony Ko. The delegation will return to Hong Kong tonight.
Secretary for Health to lead delegation to visit Beijing
5.11.2023

The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, today (November 5) will lead a delegation for a three-day visit in Beijing to meet relevant Mainland authorities and introduce to Mainland officials the latest development of various healthcare policies in Hong Kong, with a view to pursuing deeper exchanges and further co-operation with the Mainland in the healthcare aspect. The Permanent Secretary for Health, Mr Thomas Chan; the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam; the Chairman of the Hospital Authority (HA), Mr Henry Fan; and the Chief Executive of the HA, Dr Tony Ko, are among the delegation. Professor Lo will return to Hong Kong on November 8. During his absence, the Under Secretary for Health, Dr Libby Lee, is the Acting Secretary for Health.