Health Secretary Visits Shenzhen to Strengthen Cross-Boundary Healthcare Collaboration in Greater Bay Area

Secretary for Health visits Shenzhen

The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, visited Shenzhen today (February 11) to meet with health officials from the Guangdong Provincial and Shenzhen Municipal Governments, as well as port control officials. The visit aims to further deepen cross-boundary healthcare collaboration with the Mainland, particularly with Mainland cities within the Greater Bay Area (GBA).

Professor Lo first met with Deputy Director of the Public Hygiene and Health Commission of Shenzhen Municipality (SZHC) Mr Li Chuang and Second-level Inspector of the Office of Port of Entry and Exit of the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government (Shenzhen Port Office) Mr Wu Bing as well as representatives from the Shenzhen Customs and the Shenzhen General Station of Immigration Inspection. A representative from the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office of the Department of Health (DH) introduced the tobacco control direction and policies of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government at the meeting.

Professor Lo expressed gratitude to the Shenzhen Municipal Government for their long-time support in fostering cross-boundary healthcare measures. He said, "I would like to give special thanks to the SZHC, the Shenzhen Port Office, the Shenzhen Customs and the Shenzhen General Station of Immigration Inspection for their support on the HKSAR Government's work on tobacco control, including enhancing the promotion of Hong Kong's latest tobacco control regulations to visitors travelling to Hong Kong in the boundary control point area in Shenzhen, and working together in advocating the concept of the 'Smoke-free Port, Fresh Bay Area'. I look forward to deepening co-operation and exchanges between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, thereby reducing the harm caused by tobacco together and safeguarding public health."

Professor Lo then visited the University of Hong Kong - Shenzhen Hospital (HKU-SZH) with Deputy Director-General of the Health Commission of Guangdong Province (GDHC) Mr Deng Linfeng to inspect the practical implementation of cross-boundary healthcare measures and visit the hospital's phase II development.

Professor Lo said, "Since July 2024, the Health Bureau has piloted the 'Cross-boundary Health Record' and the 'Personal Folder' functions on the eHealth mobile application at HKU-SZH, which support Hong Kong citizens to securely use their electronic health records outside Hong Kong under the principle of 'bring your own health records'. The two functions have been extended to 19 medical institutions under the 'Elderly Health Care Voucher Greater Bay Area Pilot Scheme' since September 2024. Starting January this year, we have made a significant breakthrough through the 'Personal Folder' function. Citizens can authorise three medical institutions in the GBA to directly deposit radiology reports and images, which are often challenging to upload themselves, into their personal eHealth accounts. This upgrade allows citizens to store and utilise electronic health records from healthcare services received outside Hong Kong in a more convenient and secure manner, thereby facilitating greater continuity of care. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the GDHC to further advance cross-boundary health record sharing, with a view to supporting the cross-boundary medical needs of citizens more effectively and improving the quality and safety of cross-boundary healthcare services."

During the inspection at HKU-SZH, Professor Lo also interacted with Hong Kong seniors receiving treatment. He was pleased to learn that they found the usage arrangements for the Elderly Health Care Voucher convenient, with the medical process and services being meticulous and smooth. They commended the HKSAR Government for expanding the voucher's applicability to 21 service points within the Mainland cities of the GBA, providing them with more healthcare options and saving them the trouble of long journeys, thereby enhancing their sense of well-being.

Members of the delegation include the Permanent Secretary for Health, Mr Thomas Chan, and representatives from the DH and the Hospital Authority.

The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau and Deputy Director of the Public Hygiene and Health Commission of Shenzhen Municipality Mr Li Chuang, met in Shenzhen today (February 11) to further deepen healthcare collaboration between Shenzhen and Hong Kong. Photo shows Professor Lo (second right); Deputy Director-General of the Health Commission of Guangdong Province Mr Deng Linfeng (third left); Mr Li (second left); and the Permanent Secretary for Health, Mr Thomas Chan (third right), inspecting the practical implementation of cross-boundary healthcare measures at the University of Hong Kong - Shenzhen Hospital. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau (left) and Deputy Director of the Public Hygiene and Health Commission of Shenzhen Municipality Mr Li Chuang (centre), met in Shenzhen today (February 11) to further deepen healthcare collaboration between Shenzhen and Hong Kong. Photo shows Professor Lo chatting with an elderly person from Hong Kong receiving treatment at the University of Hong Kong - Shenzhen Hospital. Accompanying is the Permanent Secretary for Health, Mr Thomas Chan (right). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau and Deputy Director of the Public Hygiene and Health Commission of Shenzhen Municipality Mr Li Chuang, met in Shenzhen today (February 11) to further deepen healthcare collaboration between Shenzhen and Hong Kong. Photo shows Professor Lo (first left) and the Permanent Secretary for Health, Mr Thomas Chan (second left), visiting the University of Hong Kong - Shenzhen Hospital. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, and Deputy Director of the Public Hygiene and Health Commission of Shenzhen Municipality Mr Li Chuang, met in Shenzhen today (February 11) to further deepen healthcare collaboration between Shenzhen and Hong Kong. Photo shows Professor Lo (centre); Mr Li (fourth right); the Permanent Secretary for Health, Mr Thomas Chan (fourth left); the Senior Advisor (Secretary for Health's Office), Dr Joe Fan (third left), and other government personnel of the two places with a promotional screen displaying message of eHealth's cross-boundary health records at the Shenzhen Bay Port. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, and Deputy Director of the Public Hygiene and Health Commission of Shenzhen Municipality Mr Li Chuang, meet in Shenzhen today (February 11) to further deepen healthcare collaboration between Shenzhen and Hong Kong. Photo shows Professor Lo (centre); Mr Li (fourth right); the Permanent Secretary for Health, Mr Thomas Chan (fourth left); the Senior Advisor (Secretary for Health's Office), Dr Joe Fan (third left), and other government personnel of the two places with a screen displaying Hong Kong's tobacco control measures to remind its inbound travellers at the Shenzhen Bay Port. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau (fourth right), and Deputy Director of the Public Hygiene and Health Commission of Shenzhen Municipality Mr Li Chuang (second left), meet in Shenzhen today (February 11) to further deepen healthcare collaboration between Shenzhen and Hong Kong. The Permanent Secretary for Health, Mr Thomas Chan (third right), and the Senior Advisor (Secretary for Health's Office), Dr Joe Fan (fifth right), also attend. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Secretary for Health visits Shenzhen Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Secretary for Health visits Shenzhen Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Secretary for Health visits Shenzhen Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Secretary for Health visits Shenzhen Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Secretary for Health visits Shenzhen Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Secretary for Health visits Shenzhen Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Secretary for Health visits Shenzhen Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Labour Department enhances industry-based recruitment and employment services

The Labour Department (LD) announced today (March 16) that the 10 job centres across the territory will strengthen recruitment and employment services for the catering, retail and construction industries from April 1, including organising more district-based job fairs, staging recruitment weeks and strengthening employment advisory services for these industries, with a view to providing employers and job seekers with more convenient and appropriate services.

The LD today also launched enhanced industry-based thematic webpages - Dedicated Webpages on Catering, Retail and Construction Industries - to provide job seekers with the latest information about these sectors, including job fairs, job vacancies and recruitment trends. Job seekers may also receive information about newly posted job vacancies via email or push notifications through the Interactive Employment Service website and its mobile application.

In addition, the LD will organise three large-scale "Embarking on a New Journey" industry-based job fairs at MacPherson Stadium in Mong Kok on April 21, May 12 and May 13 to provide a large number of job vacancies from the above industries. Details of the district-based job fairs and recruitment weeks for the industries to be held at job centres will be announced nearer the time on the Dedicated Webpages on Catering, Retail and Construction Industries.

To enhance the effective use of public resources, the Recruitment Centre for the Catering Industry and Retail Industry in Cheung Sha Wan, as well as the Recruitment Centre for the Construction Industry in Ngau Tau Kok, will cease operation on April 1. Members of the public may visit job centres in various districts or browse the Dedicated Webpages on Catering, Retail and Construction Industries for employment information and services related to these sectors.

The LD will continue to enhance its services in light of service needs and market situation to further improve efficiency.

Source: AI-found images