Hong Kong's Hospital Authority Delegation Visits Beijing to Enhance Healthcare Collaboration and Talent Exchange.

Hospital Authority exchanges with Beijing healthcare institutes

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

The Chief Executive of the Hospital Authority (HA), Dr Tony Ko, led a delegation to visit Beijing for four consecutive days (September 10 to 13) to deepen exchanges and collaboration among healthcare institutions of the two places, and further promote registration pathways for non-locally trained doctors to exchange and work in Hong Kong in order to expand the healthcare talent pool in Hong Kong.

Dr Ko said, "The delegation visited the Beijing Municipal Health Commission and exchanged in-depth views on various medical and healthcare issues, and explored the deepening of exchanges and collaboration among public hospitals of Beijing and Hong Kong, including enhancing professional exchanges of healthcare talents between the two places, so that healthcare talents can leverage on respective strengths on a complementary principle to further uplift the quality of healthcare sectors in the two places."

The delegation also visited the Tsinghua University and the Capital Medical University respectively. Both institutions offer medical qualifications courses recognised by the Special Registration Committee of Hong Kong. The delegation introduced to the two institutions the arrangements for non-locally trained doctors to come to Hong Kong for exchange and work through limited or special registration, as well as the "Global Healthcare Talent Scheme" and various exchange programmes carried out by HA in different cities in the Mainland. The delegation also received briefings on the curriculum of medical education by representatives from the two institutions. The delegation also visited two affiliated hospitals of Capital Medical University, namely Beijing Youan Hospital and Beijing Friendship Hospital, to learn the latest developments of healthcare institutions and technology in the Mainland.

Dr Ko added that the public healthcare services in Hong Kong and Beijing can learn from each other, and are looking forward to further strengthening collaboration in hospital management and services development in the future, and hopes to enhance talent training and exchanges for enhancing the quality of healthcare services of the healthcare institutes in both places for the benefits of patients.

The delegation also participated in the 2024 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS). Dr Ko delivered a speech on "Public Hospital Management in Hong Kong: Towards a New Era of Smart Care" at the Beijing International Conference for Public Health Cooperation held under the CIFTIS, in which he shared HA's experience in the development of public hospital services through smart hospital initiatives with the medical and health experts from different countries and places. The delegation also visited the Thematic Exhibition on Health Services in the CIFTIS to learn about the high quality innovative development of public hospitals in the Mainland.

Hospital Authority exchanges with Beijing healthcare institutes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hospital Authority exchanges with Beijing healthcare institutes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hospital Authority exchanges with Beijing healthcare institutes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs seizes smuggled goods worth about $40 million

Hong Kong Customs detected two suspected smuggling cases involving ocean-going vessels on October 2. A large batch of suspected smuggled goods with a total estimated market value of about $40 million was seized.

Through intelligence analysis and risk assessment, Customs discovered that criminals intended to use ocean-going vessels to smuggle goods. Strategies were thus formulated, with one suspicious container scheduled to be shipped from Hong Kong to Thailand, and one suspicious container prepared to be shipped to Cambodia, via ocean-going vessels selected for inspection.

Customs inspected the two containers, declared as carrying clothing and kitchenware respectively, on October 2. Upon examinations, Customs officers found large batches of suspected smuggled goods, including audio equipment, watches, cameras and other electronic products that were mix-loaded with the clothes and kitchenware in the containers.

An investigation is ongoing. The likelihood of arrests is not ruled out.

Being a government department primarily responsible for tackling smuggling activities, Customs has long been combating various smuggling offences. Customs will keep up its enforcement action and continue to fiercely combat sea smuggling activities through proactive risk management and intelligence-based enforcement strategies, and carry out targeted anti-smuggling operations at suitable times to disrupt relevant crimes.

Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years upon conviction.

Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Hong Kong Customs seizes smuggled goods worth about $40 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases