Hong Kong and Shenzhen Strengthen Cross-Border Medical Collaboration at Greater Bay Area Clinical Trial Meeting.

Government delegation attends Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Clinical Trial Collaboration meeting in Shenzhen

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government delegation met with a delegation led by Deputy Director of the Public Hygiene and Health Commission of Shenzhen Municipality Ms Zhou Liping at the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) Clinical Trial Collaboration meeting held in Shenzhen today (July 29), continuing to promote cross-border medical collaboration between the two places.

The Clinical Trial Collaboration meeting provides strategic guidance on promoting clinical trial collaboration between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, co-ordinating joint research efforts, supporting the launch of international multi-centre clinical trials, and addressing the challenges encountered during implementation. During the meeting, representatives from both Hong Kong and Shenzhen had in-depth exchanges and discussions on the Implementation Plan for Collaborative Advancement of International Clinical Trials in the GBA, with the goal of further strengthening co-ordination and driving execution of the initiatives.

The executive bodies of the Clinical Trial Collaboration - representatives from the GBA International Clinical Trial Institute (GBAICTI) in the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone and the GBA International Clinical Trials Center (BAY TRIAL) in the Shenzhen Park - also gave a progress report on key initiatives to advance clinical trial collaboration. This included the latest developments and proposed services of the GBA Clinical Trial Collaboration Platform, which will be jointly established by the end of this year. The key areas include project evaluation, trial design consultation, and subject recruitment planning for multi-centre clinical trials, provided by a joint Shenzhen-Hong Kong advisory team; introduction of artificial intelligence technologies to assist with matching of clinical trial institutions and researchers, as well as offering consultation services; establishment of a co-ordinated ethics review mechanism between the two places to enhance approval efficiency; promotion of talent exchange, collaboration, and professional training; building of a research talent pool to facilitate talent mobility and regional collaboration; and as a pilot, the development of clinical databases and biobanks based on diseases in which Shenzhen and Hong Kong have advantages. In addition, the Shenzhen and Hong Kong sides also discussed further integrating the measure of using Hong Kong-registered drugs and medical devices used in Hong Kong public hospitals in the GBA with real-world studies in an effective manner, exploring the use of real-world data to support drug registration and approval in the Mainland at the meeting.

The Clinical Trial Collaboration meeting today marks a critical step forward in enhancing co-ordinated development of clinical research and promoting biomedicine innovative application within the GBA, creating a good start for the Clinical Trial Collaboration. The simultaneous launch of the GBAICTI and the BAY TRIAL last year marked the beginning of a new chapter in cross-border collaboration under the "one zone, two parks" model by the "one institute, one center" framework, showcasing the joint commitment and concerted efforts of both places to promote medical innovation. The Clinical Trial Collaboration meeting aims to create a more efficient co-ordination mechanism, overseeing Shenzhen-Hong Kong clinical research collaboration at the strategic level.

Representatives from the GBAICTI and the BAY TRIAL signed a Memorandum of Understanding after the meeting to further strengthen collaboration between Shenzhen and Hong Kong in the field of clinical research. Shortly after, the two parties also signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding with representatives from Immuno Cure BioTech, based in the Hong Kong Science Park, and Shenzhen Branch of the Hong Kong Science Park in Futian District, for the first ever cross-border clinical trial project. Together, they will jointly promote the cross-border multi-centre Phase II clinical trial of ICVAX, a therapeutic nucleic acid vaccine for HIV co-developed by Immuno Cure and the AIDS Institute of the University of Hong Kong.

The HKSAR Government delegation was led by the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam, with members comprising Deputy Secretary for Health Ms Elaine Mak; the Deputising Chief Executive of the Hospital Authority, Dr Simon Tang; the GBAICTI Chief Executive Officer, Professor Bernard Cheung; and representatives from the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau, the LKS Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong and the Faculty of Medicine of the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Government delegation attends Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Clinical Trial Collaboration meeting in Shenzhen Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Government delegation attends Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Clinical Trial Collaboration meeting in Shenzhen Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Government delegation attends Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Clinical Trial Collaboration meeting in Shenzhen Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Labour Department highly concerned about fatal work accident in Stanley today

The Labour Department (LD) is highly concerned about a fatal work accident that happened at a construction site in Stanley this afternoon (May 4), in which a male worker was struck by a falling object while he was working inside a lift shaft. He was certified dead later in hospital. The LD is saddened by the death of the worker and expresses its deepest sympathy to his family.

The LD's spokesman said, "We commenced an immediate on-site investigation as soon as we were notified of the accident and issued suspension notices to the contractors concerned, suspending the lift works at the site. The contractors cannot resume the work process until the LD is satisfied that suitable measures to abate the relevant risks have been taken."

The spokesman added, "We will complete the investigation as soon as possible to identify the cause of the accident, ascertain the liability of the duty holders and recommend improvement measures. We will take actions pursuant to the law if there is any violation of the work safety legislation."

To prevent workers being struck by falling objects while working inside a lift shaft, the LD reminds employers to plan and coordinate works inside the lift shaft well to avoid incompatible activities being conducted at the same time; and ensure the lift works are conducted under the immediate supervision of a qualified person who is competent by virtue of his/her substantial training and practical experience in relation to the relevant works.

The general duty provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance require employers to provide safe working environments, plant and systems of work for their employees. Those who contravene the relevant provisions are liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for two years.

In regard to today's accident, the LD will issue a Work Safety Alert through its mobile application "OSH 2.0", website and email, giving a brief account of the accident concerned to duty holders, workers' unions, professional bodies of safety practitioners and others, and reminding the industry of the importance of following safety precautionary measures to prevent a recurrence of similar accidents.

The LD will also remind the employer concerned of the liability for employees' compensation under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance, assist family members of the deceased to claim employees' compensation and closely follow up on the case. For those with financial difficulties, the LD will assist them to apply for appropriate emergency funds. Subject to the needs and wishes of family members of the deceased, the LD will also liaise with the Social Welfare Department for financial or other assistance.

For the sake of securing the safety and health of employees at work, the LD appeals to employers to provide plant and systems of work that are safe and without risks to health. Employees should co-operate with their employers, adopt all safety measures and use personal protective equipment provided properly to avoid endangering their own work safety and that of other workers.

Source: AI-found images