Government implements regulatory regime for clinics and small practice clinics
Following the plan to implement regulations for private healthcare facilities (PHFs) in phases, the Government announced today (May 21) that commencement notices have been made under the Private Healthcare Facilities Ordinance (Cap. 633) (the Ordinance) to implement the regulatory regime for clinics and small practice clinics (SPCs).
The aforesaid commencement notices will be gazetted this Friday (May 23) and tabled at the Legislative Council meeting for negative vetting on May 28. The Department of Health (DH) will step up the promotion to the healthcare sector in parallel, and begin to accept applications for clinic licences and requests for letters of exemption for SPCs from October 13 onwards.
The Ordinance regulates premises where registered medical practitioners and/or registered dentists practise. It stipulates that a licence is required for operating a clinic, and licensees must at all times comply with the Ordinance, licence conditions and codes of practice (CoP) issued by the Director of Health (DoH). Pursuant to the recommendations made by the Advisory Committee for Regulatory Standards for Private Healthcare Facilities, the DH has formulated the standards in respect of accommodation, staffing and equipment etc for operating a clinic. The DoH will issue the CoP for Clinics by gazettal on May 23, specifying October 13 as the day on which the CoP comes into effect to tie in with the arrangements for licence applications.
Application details
Clinics already in operation on or before November 30, 2018 (i.e. the gazettal date for the enactment of the Ordinance), may require substantial alterations (e.g. modifying the accommodation layout) in order to meet the licensing requirements. As a transitional arrangement, operators of such clinics may apply for a licence between October 13, 2025, and April 13, 2026. After considering the circumstances, the DH may issue a provisional licence which allows these clinics to continue their operation before a full licence is issued.
The provisional licence will expire on a date specified by the Secretary for Health for the expiry of provisions pertaining to such licences; when a full licence is issued to the licensee; or when the application for a full licence is withdrawn or rejected to give operators more time to make alterations.
As for clinics which commenced operation after November 30, 2018 (including those which started businesses or moved to new premises), operators can directly apply for a full licence from October 13 onwards.
For SPCs (i.e. clinics having not more than five registered medical practitioners and/or registered dentists that meet specific conditions under the Ordinance), operators must ask the DoH for a letter of exemption from obtaining a licence from October 13 onwards for their continued operation.
The above arrangements aim to focus on regulating clinics under the management of incorporated bodies. SPCs are exclusively operated by registered medical practitioners and/or registered dentists whose professional practice is already governed by the existing legislation with relevant safeguards. The Ordinance also empowers the DoH to revoke exemptions on specific grounds (e.g. an SPC has been operated in a way contrary to the public interest) to better uphold public interests.
Supporting arrangements
To ensure that the industry has a full understanding of the regulations, the DH has launched a publicity campaign on the website since the first quarter of this year and will progressively step up the relevant work, including disseminating information through various platforms such as professional organisations, press releases, television and radio announcements. The DH will also arrange multiple briefing sessions for the healthcare sector. Please refer to the website of the Office for Regulation of Private Healthcare Facilities (www.orphf.gov.hk) for details.
To address public concern about the use of titles or descriptions by illegal practitioners which may mislead the public into believing that medical services are provided therein, the Government plans to further implement section 92 of the Ordinance after the clinic licences and letters of exemption for SPCs have come into force to prohibit premises other than a permitted facility (i.e. neither a licensed hospital/day procedure centre/clinic, nor an SPC holding a letter of exemption) from bearing a specified title or description in order to enhance regulation.
Since its enactment in 2018, the primary objective of the Ordinance is to ensure that premises providing medical services shall comply with stipulated facility and safety standards, and oversee the quality and price transparency of medical services as appropriate. As for commercial practices of PHFs (including commercial marketing or prepayment mode of consumption), the Government will continue to exercise comprehensive regulation through other existing laws to safeguard the rights and interests of the public.
Speech by CS at Nobel Heroes Forum: Shaping Science and Future
Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, at the Nobel Heroes Forum: Shaping Science and Future today (January 12):
Dr Wong (Chairman of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) Council, Dr Peter Wong), Professor Zhang (President and Vice-Chancellor of the HKU, Professor Zhang Xiang), Mr Turner (Executive Director of Foundation Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings, Mr Nikolaus Turner), distinguished Nobel Laureates, esteemed scientists,ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning. It is my great pleasure to join you today for the Nobel Heroes Forum: Shaping Science and Future.
To our Nobel Laureates – we are truly privileged to have you with us. You represent the very best of human curiosity and perseverance. Your ground-breaking work expands our understanding of the universe, lights the path for future discovery, and inspires generations. Thank you for joining this extraordinary gathering.
And to all our distinguished guests from around the world – a very warm welcome to Hong Kong.
Today's dialogue is more than an academic event. It is a powerful convergence of the world's finest scientific minds, right here in a city that is determined to play its part in global innovation.
Hong Kong's mission is clear and unwavering: to become a premier international innovation and technology centre. A hub where top scientists, scholars and entrepreneurs can thrive, collaborate and serve the world.
To achieve this, the Government is fully committed. We are building a world-class ecosystem and nurturing the talent to power it.
First, we are building the infrastructure for greatness.
We have established a strategic I&T framework centred on three major I&T (innovation and technology) parks and five key research and development institutions.
Building on the success of the Science Park and Cyberport, we officially launched the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone last month.
The Hetao Co-operation Zone is a major co-operation platform in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area under the National 14th Five-Year Plan. The Hong Kong Park is envisioned as a world-class hub for technological innovation, connecting the Chinese Mainland with the international community, and serving as an important source for fostering new quality productive forces.
Together with our five key R&D (research and development) institutions focus on frontier technologies, these developments will create more favourable conditions for Hong Kong to attract global I&T resources and talent.
Second, we are investing decisively.
We back our words with resources. We have launched significant funding schemes across the entire innovation chain.
To support excellent and impactful research, the Research Grants Council (RGC) under the University Grants Committee administers more than 20 competitive research grant and fellowship schemes.
Furthermore, last year we launched the 3 billion HK dollars Frontier Technology Research Support Scheme to empower ground-breaking basic research led by world-class researchers and academics.
To accelerate the midstream and downstream development, we rolled out three separate 10 billion HK dollars initiatives to drive the commercialisation of R&D outcomes and new industrialisation.
Third, and most crucially, we are nurturing and attracting top talent.
Talent is our ultimate driving force. We are expanding our talent pool through multiple strategies.
On nurturing young research talent, the Government has launched the Young Collaborative Research Grant to support early-stage researchers in leading and managing collaborative research. We are also actively fostering research collaboration between Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and overseas research funding agencies through operating various Joint Research Schemes. These partnerships not only foster academic exchange but also provide opportunities to nurture researchers in exploring new frontiers in their respective fields.
On attracting global talent, the RGC Junior Research Fellow Scheme has supported some 300 doctoral graduates from Hong Kong and around the world to pursue research careers at our universities.
Our international research flagship, the InnoHK research clusters, is also there to bring together brilliant minds from all over the world to conduct world-class scientific research. To date, our two existing InnoHK research clusters – one focusing on healthcare technology and another on AI and robotics – have successfully built links with over 30 world-class universities and research institutes from 12 economies, pooling together around 3 000 researchers locally and across the globe.
To go further, the Government is now expediting the development of the third InnoHK research cluster, with the focus on sustainable development, energy, advanced manufacturing and materials.
Our strategy follows a powerful cycle: promoting technology with talent, leading industries with technology, and attracting talent with industries.
And we are seeing results. Hong Kong ranks third globally in "Technology" in the World Digital Competitiveness Ranking. The Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou cluster ranks first in the 2025 Global Innovation Index Ranking of the World's Top 100 innovation clusters.
Our startup community has grown nearly fivefold in the past decade, producing homegrown unicorns.
This progress is no accident. It is built on Hong Kong's unique strengths. Under "one country, two systems", we enjoy unwavering national support and unparalleled global connectivity. Our robust rule of law, free-flowing capital and vibrant multicultural society make Hong Kong the perfect incubator for scientific exploration and technological breakthroughs.
To every scientist, researcher and innovator here today: Hong Kong is open for you. We provide the platform, the funding, the freedom and the connections to turn visionary ideas into reality.
We invite you to build your legacy here. To join us in shaping not just the future of Hong Kong, but the future of science for humanity.
On this note, let the dialogue begin. I look forward to the fruitful and inspirational exchanges. Thank you.
Source: AI-found images
