Hong Kong and Singapore Sign MOU to Enhance Drug Regulation and Tobacco Control Collaboration

Secretary for Health continues visit to Singapore

The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, and his delegation continued their visit to Singapore today (August 13) to meet with senior officials of the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) of Singapore and the Centre of Regulatory Excellence (CoRE) at Duke-NUS Medical School.

During the meeting with the Chief Executive Officer of the HSA of Singapore, Professor Raymond Chua, Professor Lo said, "Protecting public health and tackling public health challenges transcend borders. International co-operation is indispensable in ensuring the safety, efficacy, and quality of drugs and medical devices, as well as in enhancing tobacco control to protect community health. I look forward to Hong Kong and Singapore collaborating to create synergy and share the best practices to bolster public health protection and promote medical innovation, thereby further strengthening the healthy and steady development of the healthcare systems in both places."

After the meeting, Professor Lo and Singapore's Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and the Minister for Health, Mr Ong Ye Kung, jointly witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on regulation of drugs and medical devices and tobacco control policy by the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam, and Professor Chua. The MOU aims to enhance the co-operation between the two places in areas such as regulation of drugs and medical devices, promoting tobacco control policy and enforcement, as well as regulatory capacity enhancement and training, with a view to jointly promoting the high-quality development of the regulation of drugs and medical devices.

During the meeting with the founding Executive Director of CoRE, Professor John Lim, Professor Lo introduced the initiatives put forward by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in developing Hong Kong into an international health and medical innovation hub, including strengthening the approval regimes for drugs and medical devices, as well as establishing the Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation by the end of 2026 to foster growth in the local healthcare and biotechnology industries.

Professor Lo also gained insights on CoRE's significant contributions to Singapore's healthcare regulatory system over the past decade through capacity building, strengthening collaboration and fostering innovation.

Professor Lo said, "Hong Kong is pressing ahead with reforms of the regulatory system of drugs and medical devices to address evolving healthcare needs and the rapid development of advanced treatment technologies. The valuable experience of CoRE in nurturing talent and promoting regulation of drugs and medical devices provides practical and useful reference for our ongoing reforms."

Apart from Dr Lam, members of the delegation include Deputy Secretary for Health Ms Elaine Mak and a representative from the Hospital Authority. They will visit the National Cancer Centre Singapore, a polyclinic and a pharmaceuticalcompany tomorrow (August 14), and depart for Hong Kong in the evening.

Secretary for Health continues visit to Singapore Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Secretary for Health continues visit to Singapore Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Secretary for Health continues visit to Singapore Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Secretary for Health continues visit to Singapore Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Secretary for Health continues visit to Singapore Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Secretary for Health continues visit to Singapore Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Scam alert related to banks

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to the press releases issued by the banks listed below relating to fraudulent websites, internet banking login screens, phishing emails or other scams, which have been reported to the HKMA. Hyperlinks to the press releases are available on theHKMA website.

Bank

Type of scam

The Bank of East Asia, Limited

Fraudulent websites, internet banking login screens and phishing email

Shanghai Commercial Bank Limited

Fraudulent website and internet banking login screen

OCBC Bank (Hong Kong) Limited

Fraudulent website and internet banking login screen

Chong Hing Bank Limited

Fraudulent website and internet banking login screen

Chiyu Banking Corporation Limited

Fraudulent websites and internet banking login screens

The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks' websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive information, such as login passwords or one-time password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).

Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the scams concerned, should contact the relevant bank with the information provided in the corresponding press release, and report the matter to the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.

Source: AI-found images