Hong Kong and Macao Conduct Successful Cross-Boundary Ambulance Transfer Drill in Greater Bay Area

2024-10-08 19:01 Last Updated At：19:18

Drill for Pilot Scheme for Direct Cross-boundary Ambulance Transfer in GBA by HKSAR and Macao SAR Governments conducted smoothly today

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, in collaboration with the Macao Special Administrative Region (Macao SAR) Government today (October 8), conducted a drill for the Pilot Scheme for Direct Cross-boundary Ambulance Transfer in the Greater Bay Area (Pilot Scheme), simulating the transfer of patients under the cross-boundary ambulance arrangement. The drill was conducted smoothly in general. Relevant departments of the two SAR Governments will review the arrangement, with a view to launching the Pilot Scheme within this year.

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Drill for Pilot Scheme for Direct Cross-boundary Ambulance Transfer in GBA by HKSAR and Macao SAR Governments conducted smoothly today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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Drill for Pilot Scheme for Direct Cross-boundary Ambulance Transfer in GBA by HKSAR and Macao SAR Governments conducted smoothly today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Today's drill mainly aimed at testing the routing of the cross-boundary ambulance between Conde S. Januario Hospital (CHCSJ) of Macao and the designated hospital in Hong Kong (i.e. Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH)), as well as the immigration arrangements of the ambulance. After departure from CHCSJ of Macao, the designated Macao cross-boundary ambulance travelled to PMH via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB), before returning to CHCSJ of Macao via the HZMB.

The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, said, "The Chief Executive announced in the 2023 Policy Address the exploration of a cross-boundary ambulance transfer arrangement in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). The Pilot Scheme will first roll out the arrangement of a direct ambulance transfer of patients from designated hospitals in Shenzhen and Macao to designated public hospitals in Hong Kong. Further to the smooth completion of the drill conducted by the HKSAR Government in collaboration with the Guangdong Provincial Government and the Shenzhen Municipal Government on August 23 this year, I am glad that the HKSAR Government and the Macao SAR Government have also made today's drill a success through concerted efforts, further streamlining the flow of a direct cross-boundary ambulance transfer to get better prepared for the launch of the Pilot Scheme."

As a facilitation to the drill arrangement, the HKSAR Government published in the Gazette last Friday (October 4) the exemption of designated Macao cross-boundary ambulances from the Road Traffic (Registration and Licensing of Vehicles) Regulations (Cap. 374E) (the Regulations) during a specified period, pursuant to regulation 3(c) of the Regulations. The Governments of the two places are striving to finalise as soon as possible the long-term arrangements for designated Macao cross-boundary ambulances to enter Hong Kong.

Apart from the entry arrangement of vehicles into Hong Kong, the Health Bureau is also in discussion with relevant departments of the Macao SAR Government on the implementation details regarding the entry of medical items and personnel on the direct cross-boundary ambulance into Hong Kong. In particular, CHCSJ of Macao will deploy healthcare personnel to escort patients with clinical needs on the ambulance to a designated public hospital in Hong Kong. The HKSAR Government will ensure compliance by the doctors concerned with the relevant laws of Hong Kong, such that they can continue to carry out the necessary medical procedures for the patients on board the ambulance upon entry into Hong Kong. The Medical Council of Hong Kong has issued a promulgation regarding limited registration in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Medical Registration Ordinance (Cap. 161). The Hospital Authority (HA) is making limited registration applications for the Macao doctors who will provide support aboard the directcross-boundary ambulances.

Under the Pilot Scheme, the cross-boundary ambulance mechanism will only be activated when a prior agreement between the sending hospital (i.e. the University of Hong Kong - Shenzhen Hospital or CHCSJ of Macao) and the receiving hospital (i.e. designated public hospitals under the HA of Hong Kong) has been reached in advance, with the medical needs, safety and interests of patients as the prime concerns, and a mechanism in place to avoid abuse. Subject to the effectiveness and operational experience upon the launching of the Pilot Scheme, the HKSAR Government will consider the arrangement for the next phase of the Scheme.

Buildings Department Relaunches Reporting Scheme for Unauthorised Building Works in New Territories Exempted Houses

Re-launch of Reporting Scheme for Unauthorised Building Works in New Territories Exempted Houses

Following the direction of earlier proposals, the Buildings Department (BD) announced today (April 1) the re-launch of the Reporting Scheme for Unauthorised Building Works (UBWs) in New Territories Exempted Houses (NTEHs). The reporting period will last for one year from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027.

"In view of the history and unique circumstances of the NTEHs (commonly known as village houses), the Government launched a one-off administrative reporting scheme in 2012 as a special arrangement. Under the scheme, owners could report to the BD about UBWs that were erected before June 28, 2011, posed lower risks or constituted less serious contravention of the law. The reporting period ended in December 2012. The Development Bureau (DEVB) put forward proposals to amend the Buildings Ordinance in December 2024, which included rationalising the policy for handling UBWs. The DEVB also pointed out that in response to the views of villagers and Legislative Council members that the reporting period was too short, the Government prepared to re-launch the Reporting Scheme to allow owners who at that time did not report their UBWs to do so," a spokesman for the BD said.

Relevant stakeholders and Legislative Council members generally considered the above proposals practical and feasible, and they welcomed the proposals. The DEVB and the BD have also consulted Heung Yee Kuk on the relevant implementation arrangements.

The re-launched Reporting Scheme will maintain the original criteria, including:

(1) The types of UBWs that can be reported and their erection dates are the same as the original Reporting Scheme, meaning that only UBWs erected before June 28, 2011, posed lower risks or constituted less serious contravention of the law and were not the First Round Targets (Note) are eligible. Examples include signboards projecting from the external walls of village houses; enclosed rooftop structures with a coverage of not more than 50 per cent of the roofed-over area of the main building.

(2) Same as the original Reporting Scheme, owners are required to conduct safety inspections on the reported UBWs every five years.

"The BD will not require the immediate removal of the reported UBWs unless their structures become obviously dangerous. Regarding UBWs in village houses, the BD is prioritising the handling of First Round Targets. If any relevant UBWs remain not reported after the application deadline of March 31, 2027, the BD will, after dealing with the First Round Targets, take priority enforcement action against the non-reported UBWs. The BD will formulate enforcement strategy for the reported UBWs at a later stage in accordance with the risks and the actual situation," the spokesman added.

To enhance the efficiency of processing applications, reports must be submitted via the electronic platform on the BD's website by technically competent persons or registered professional engineers appointed by owners. In accordance with the user-pays principle, an administrative fee of $600 is payable for each application. Upon successful reports, owners must also pay the relevant administrative fee when conducting safety inspections of the reported UBWs every five years.

Details of the re-launched Reporting Scheme are available on the BD's website at https://www.bd.gov.hk/en/safety-inspection/ubw/UBW-in-new-territories-exempted-houses/index_relaunch_reporting_scheme.html; Villagers who wish to report can call 2626 1616 for enquiry. The BD will also use different channels such as distributing leaflets and posters to Rural Committees to enable villagers to know more about the re-launch of the Reporting Scheme.

Owners who had successfully participated in the Reporting Scheme in 2012 are not required to submit reports again. However, they must continue to comply with the requirements of the original Reporting Scheme, including conducting safety inspections of the reported UBWs every five years, submitting safety certificates and paying administrative fees to the BD.

Note: The First Round Targets refer to UBWs with higher potential risks and more serious nature, such as village houses of four storeys or more, and enclosed rooftop structures covering more than 50 per cent of the roofed-over area.

Hong Kong and Macao Conduct Successful Cross-Boundary Ambulance Transfer Drill in Greater Bay Area

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