Government received report from MCHK to improve complaint handling mechanism
The Health Bureau received the report from the Medical Council of Hong Kong (MCHK) on improving its complaint handling mechanism today (December 24).
The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, said, "Healthcare professions uphold professional autonomy premised on the trust of members of the public. As the statutory regulatory body of the medical profession, the MCHK is empowered under the Medical Registration Ordinance (MRO) to handle registration and disciplinary matters of medical practitioners and bears the main responsibility to uphold the professional standard and ethical conduct of doctors. Members of the MCHK must actively discharge their duties and fulfil their mission of ensuring justice, maintaining professionalism and protecting the public, to maintain public trust in the medical profession."
Professor Lo added, "The Health Bureau is examining the MCHK’s report in detail and will request the MCHK to provide clarifications and further information regarding its content, including the MCHK's monitoring mechanism over the progress of the Preliminary Investigation Committee and Inquiry Panel in handling complaints, as well as their respective roles in monitoring case progress. If the MCHK raises any comment on the performance of its Secretary in providing administrative support, the Department of Health will conduct an investigation based on the content of the MCHK's report, including whether to commence disciplinary proceedings against individual staff members. The Government will announce the next phase of work at an appropriate juncture."
The Health Bureau will introduce amendments to the MRO in response to the recommendations of the report and based on the operational need of the MCHK, targeting to introduce an amendment bill into the Legislative Council in the first half of next year. The Health Bureau will begin consultation work with the sector and stakeholders next month on amending the MRO and enhancing the MCHK's complaint handling mechanism and will meet with stakeholders such as professional organisations and patient groups to listen to their views.
The Health Bureau
FEHD releases fourth batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in December
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (December 24) released the fourth batch of gravidtrap indexes and density indexes for Aedes albopictus in December, covering 25 survey areas, as follows:
District |
Survey Area |
December 2025 |
First Phase Gravidtrap Index |
First Phase Density Index |
Eastern |
Shau Kei Wan and Sai Wan Ho |
0.0% |
N/A |
Islands |
Cheung Chau South |
0.0% |
N/A |
Kowloon City |
Lok Fu West |
0.0% |
N/A |
North |
Fanling |
0.0% |
N/A |
Tsuen Wan |
Tsuen Wan Town |
0.0% |
N/A |
District |
Survey Area |
December 2025 |
Area Gravidtrap Index |
Area Density Index |
Central and Western |
Sheung Wan and Sai Ying Pun |
0.0% |
N/A |
Sai Wan |
0.0% |
N/A |
Southern |
Pok Fu Lam |
0.0% |
N/A |
Islands |
Cheung Chau North |
0.0% |
N/A |
Tung Chung |
0.0% |
N/A |
Mong Kok |
Mong Kok |
0.0% |
N/A |
Sham Shui Po |
Cheung Sha Wan |
0.0% |
N/A |
Lai Chi Kok |
0.0% |
N/A |
Wong Tai Sin |
Wong Tai Sin West |
0.0% |
N/A |
Ngau Chi Wan |
0.0% |
N/A |
Sai Kung |
Tseung Kwan O East |
0.0% |
N/A |
Tseung Kwan O North |
1.1% |
1.0 |
Sai Kung Town |
0.9% |
1.0 |
Ngau Liu and Muk Min Shan |
0.0% |
N/A |
Tai Po |
Tai Po West |
0.0% |
N/A |
Yuen Long |
Yuen Long Town |
0.0% |
N/A |
Tuen Mun |
Tuen Mun North |
0.8% |
1.0 |
Tsuen Wan |
Sheung Kwai Chung |
0.0% |
N/A |
Kwai Tsing |
Kwai Chung |
0.0% |
N/A |
Lai King |
0.0% |
N/A |
Among the fourth batch of First Phase Gravidtrap Indexes covering five survey areas and Area Gravidtrap Indexes covering 20 survey areas in December, all were below 10 per cent, and most of the areas recorded zero per cent, indicating that the distribution of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes was not extensive.
The FEHD has so far released four batches of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in December 2025, covering 55 survey areas. Among these 55 survey areas, 52 recorded a decrease or remained unchanged in the individual gravidtrap index as compared to the Area Gravidtrap Index last month, i.e. November 2025, representing that the areas' mosquito infestation improved or maintained a low level. Three other areas recorded a slight increase, but the indexes were lower than 10 per cent.
The eggs of Aedes albopictus can withstand long periods of desiccation and will hatch when the temperature becomes suitable and water is present. Members of the public should continue to take mosquito control measures during winter to eliminate mosquito eggs.
Public participation is crucial to the effective control of mosquito problems. The FEHD appeals to members of the public to continue to work together in strengthening personal mosquito control measures, including:
tidy up their premises and check for any accumulation of water inside their premises;
remove all unnecessary water collections and eliminate the sources;
check household items (those placed in outdoor and open areas in particular), such as refuse containers, vases, air conditioner drip trays, and laundry racks to prevent stagnant water;
change the water in flower vases and clear the water in saucers of potted plants at least once every seven days;
properly cover all containers that hold water to prevent mosquitoes from accessing the water;
properly dispose of articles that can contain water, such as empty lunch boxes and cans; and
scrub drains and surface sewers with alkaline detergent at least once a week to remove any mosquito eggs.
Starting in August this year, following the completion of the surveillance of individual survey areas, and once the latest gravidtrap index and the density index are available, the FEHD has been disseminating relevant information through press releases, its website and social media. It aims to allow members of the public to quickly grasp the mosquito infestation situation and strengthen mosquito control efforts, thereby reducing the risk of chikungunya fever (CF) transmission.
Following recommendations from the World Health Organization and taking into account the local situation in Hong Kong, the FEHD sets up gravidtraps in districts where mosquito-borne diseases have been recorded in the past, as well as in densely populated places such as housing estates, hospitals and schools to monitor the breeding and distribution of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, which can transmit CF and dengue fever. At present, the FEHD has set up gravidtraps in 64 survey areas of the community. During the two weeks of surveillance, the FEHD will collect the gravidtraps once a week. After the first week of surveillance, the FEHD will immediately examine the glue boards inside the retrieved gravidtraps for the presence of adult Aedine mosquitoes to compile the Gravidtrap Index (First Phase) and Density Index (First Phase). At the end of the second week of surveillance, the FEHD will instantly check the glue boards for the presence of adult Aedine mosquitoes. Data from the two weeks of surveillance will be combined to obtain the Area Gravidtrap Index and the Area Density Index. The gravidtrap and density indexes for Aedes albopictus in different survey areas, as well as information on mosquito prevention and control measures, are available on the department's webpage (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/pestcontrol/dengue_fever/Dengue_Fever_Gravidtrap_Index_Update.html#).
Source: AI-found images
