Dental Services to Merge with Hospital Authority Starting February 2026, Ensuring Continuity in Patient Care

Integration of Hospital Dental Service of Department of Health into Hospital Authority

​The Department of Health (DH) and the Hospital Authority (HA) today (December 15) announced that the Hospital Dental Service (HDS) currently provided by the DH will be integrated with the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMS) Service under the HA from February 6, 2026, and the service will be taken up by the HA.

As outlined in "The Chief Executive's 2024 Policy Address", a comprehensive review of the positioning and objectives of the healthcare system is under way, involving reforms of the functions and division of responsibilities among the HA, the DH and the Primary Healthcare Commission (PHC Commission). The DH will focus on its public health functions and executing its regulatory and enforcement roles. To implement this policy direction, the clinical services of the DH are being gradually integrated with either the HA or the PHC Commission.

Following the earlier transfer of the DH's Clinical Genetic Service to the HA, the DH's HDS will be managed by the HA startingFebruary 6next year. In fact, the seven Oral Maxillofacial Surgery and Dental Clinics (OMS&DCs) under the DH's HDS are all located within the following HA public hospitals, primarily providing specialist oral maxillofacial surgery and dental treatment for hospital in-patients, patients with special oral healthcare needs, and dental emergencies:

• Queen Mary Hospital;

• Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital;

• Queen Elizabeth Hospital;

• Princess Margaret Hospital;

• Tuen Mun Hospital;

• Prince of Wales Hospital; and

• North District Hospital.

These clinics will continue to operate at the original sites and integrate with the existing OMS service in six public hospitals provided by the HA. This will help further streamline and optimise the overall service delivery.

To ensure continuity in patient care upon the transfer of service, all scheduled/follow-up appointment records for patients at the aforementioned seven OMS&DCs for dates on or afterFebruary 6, 2026, along with the cases and relevant medical records stored at these clinics, including clinical records, X-ray records, clinical photos, and dental casts, will be transferred to the HA. If patients/family members do not agree to have their cases and relevant medical records transferred to the HA, they should contact the DH by phone at3153 4044or by email (hds_enquiry@dh.gov.hk)on or beforeJanuary 16, 2026, to facilitate the necessary arrangements.

Patients who opt out of the arrangements should note that their follow-up appointments scheduled on or afterFebruary 6next year will be cancelled. Should they require future consultations at the HA's dental and OMS services, a new referral letter will be required for appointments, and new case consultation fees will be charged according to the HA's arrangements. Medical records that patients/family members refuse to transfer to the HA will be disposed of and destroyed by the DH in accordance with its record management policy after the service transfer. For enquiries about the arrangements, please contact the DH.

The Department of Health

HKeToll and HZMB to cease accepting Autotoll ETC and VGoPAY for payments from March 16, 2026

The Transport Department (TD) today (December 15) reminded members of the public that, following the announcement of Autotoll Limited to exit the stored value facility business from March 16, 2026, the HKeToll and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) will stop accepting Autotoll's Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) and VGoPAY e-wallets for payments for tolled tunnels and the HZMB from the same day. Existing Autotoll ETC users should shift to other auto-payment means as soon as possible to continue to enjoy the convenience of free-flow tolling.

HKeToll

The TD urged users paying via Autotoll ETC to set up new auto-payment means on the HKeToll website (www.hketoll.gov.hk) or mobile app early, including direct debit from bank accounts, automatic credit card payments or deductions from Designated Stored Value Accounts so that they can continue to enjoy the convenience of auto-payment under the HKeToll seamlessly.

Registered vehicle owners who have yet to set up new auto-payment means are required by law to pay the tunnel tolls on their own within 14 business days after passing through a tunnel, such as paying via e-payment on the HKeToll website or mobile app, or by cash at convenience stores or the HKeToll customer service centres.

Failing to pay outstanding tolls may result in a surcharge of up to $525 per trip, and an application for vehicle licence renewal or transfer of vehicle ownership for the relevant vehicles may be declined. For assistance, users may call the HKeToll 24-hour customer service hotline at 3853 7333 or refer to relevant tutorial videos (www.hketoll.gov.hk/Home/Resources).

HZMB

As for the HZMB tolls, users concerned should apply for the Unitoll service through its website (www.96533.com), other local partner banks or at the following locations to continue to make auto-payments:

• Zhuhai Business Hall at the Unitoll Customer Service Center; or

• Highway Service Point at the Nanping Toll Plaza of the GuangZhuWest Line.

For enquiries on the application for the Unitoll service, please call Autotoll's customer service hotline at 2627 8888.

A spokesman for the TD said that it has been maintaining close liaison with the regulatory authorities concerned. The TD has requested Autotoll Limited to inform affected users proactively and provide appropriate assistance to ensure that they can smoothly set up alternative auto-payment means and continue to pay tolls for the HKeToll and the HZMB automatically. Members of the public concerned should heed its announcements online (www.autotoll.com.hk/autotollclub/).