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

Hong Kong Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected drugs worth about $7.95 million

Hong Kong Customs detected two dangerous drugs cases in Tseung Kwan O and Hong Kong International Airport respectively yesterday (May 21) and today (May 22), and seized a total of about 21.8 kilograms of assorted drugs with a total estimated market value of about $7.95 million. Two men and one woman, aged between 38 and 49, were arrested.

In the first case, Customs officers intercepted a 48-year-old man and a 49-year-old woman in Tseung Kwan O during an anti-narcotics operation yesterday afternoon. About 3.8kg of suspected drugs, including ketamine, methamphetamine, etomidate capsules, psilocybin mushrooms, MDMA and a batch of suspected drug packaging paraphernalia were found in their residence in the same district. They were then arrested.

In the second case, a 38-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, today. During customs clearance, Customs officers found about 18kg of suspected ketamine inside his check-in suitcase and 33 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarette inside his carry-on baggage. The man was subsequently arrested.

The arrested man and woman in the first case have been jointly charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug and one count of possession of apparatus fit and intended for the inhalation of a dangerous drug. The case will be brought up at the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (May 23), while an investigation is ongoing for the second case.

Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people.

Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.

Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Hong Kong Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected drugs worth about $7.95 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected drugs worth about $7.95 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases