Two-way transfer arrangement of Pilot Scheme for Direct Cross-boundary Ambulance Transfer in GBA officially implemented starting today

Two-way transfer arrangement of Pilot Scheme for Direct Cross-boundary Ambulance Transfer in GBA officially implemented starting today

The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) announced today (March 27) the official implementation of the two-way transfer arrangement of the Pilot Scheme for Direct Cross-boundary Ambulance Transfer in the Greater Bay Area with Shenzhen, Zhuhai, and Macao starting today, marking a new phase of the Pilot Scheme.

In his 2025 Policy Address, the Chief Executive announced that the HKSAR Government will, in collaboration with the governments of Guangdong and Macao, extend the cross-boundary ambulance transfer arrangements in an orderly manner, including two-way ambulance transfers. To ensure the smooth implementation of relevant arrangements, subsequent to the first northbound transfer drill with the Guangdong Provincial Government and the Shenzhen Municipal Government on February 10, the HKSAR Government conducted a two-way transfer drill with the governments of Zhuhai and Macao Special Administrative Region (Macao SAR) on March 20 to assess the simulated transfer of patients under the cross-boundary ambulance transfer arrangements.

During the drill, the Zhuhai and Macao ambulances first departed from designated receiving hospitals in Zhuhai and Macao respectively (i.e. Zhuhai People's Hospital (ZHPH) and Conde S. Januario Hospital of Macao (CHCSJ)), and travelled to the designated Hong Kong sending hospitals (i.e. Princess Margaret Hospital and Hong Kong Children's Hospital) via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Port to pick up the patients, and then transferred the patients back to the aforementioned designated receiving hospitals via the same port for treatment. The testing process was smooth.

The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, said, "Direct cross-boundary ambulance transfer in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) is one of the important measures of the Outline Development Plan for the GBA. It is also a policy measure as announced by the Chief Executive in his 2023 and 2025 Policy Addresses. The official implementation of two-way transfer of the Pilot Scheme starting today offers a safer, more timely and convenient transfer arrangement for patients in the region with specific needs. This marks a significant milestone of realising high-quality medical collaboration in the GBA and advancing the high-quality development of a 'Healthy Bay Area'.

"The arrangements for direct cross-boundary ambulance transfer in the GBA involve cross-boundary travelling of vehicles, healthcare personnel, drugs and medical devices, and more. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to various national ministries, including the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, the National Health Commission and the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China, for their support and guidance that contributed to the further extension of the Pilot Scheme to two-way transfer arrangements. I would also like to thank various authorities of the governments of the Guangdong Province, Zhuhai Municipality and Shenzhen Municipality as well as the Macao SAR for their close collaboration and concerted efforts, which facilitate the advancement of the Pilot Scheme in a smooth and orderly manner. In addition, I would like to thank a number of HKSAR government departments and organisations, including the Security Bureau, the Transport and Logistics Bureau, the Hong Kong Police Force, the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department, the Immigration Department, the Transport Department, the Department of Health and the Hospital Authority, for their full co-operation."

The overall operation of the Pilot Scheme has been smooth since its launch on November 30, 2024. The Pilot Scheme will be extended until November 29 this year. As at late March, 25 patients have been transferred from designated sending hospitals in Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Nansha, and Macao (i.e. the University of Hong Kong - Shenzhen Hospital, ZHPH, Nansha Division of the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, and CHCSJ) to designated public hospitals in Hong Kong for treatment. According to professional medical assessments, the patients concerned have a need for continuous hospitalisation for treatment. Their conditions were relatively stable, but they were unable to cross the boundary on their own and were unsuitable for transfer to an ambulance via the existing boundary control points.

The government departments of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao will continue to review the effectiveness and operational experiences of the existing transfer arrangements, with the medical needs, safety and interests of patients as the prime concerns, as well as to continuously optimise the arrangements of cross-boundary ambulance transfer.

The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region announced today (March 27) the official implementation of the two-way transfer arrangement of the Pilot Scheme for Direct Cross-boundary Ambulance Transfer in the Greater Bay Area with Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Macao starting today. Photo shows a Macao cross-boundary ambulance used for a recent two-way transfer drill simulating the transfer of a patient arriving Conde S. Januario Hospital of Macao. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region announced today (March 27) the official implementation of the two-way transfer arrangement of the Pilot Scheme for Direct Cross-boundary Ambulance Transfer in the Greater Bay Area with Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Macao starting today. Photo shows a Macao cross-boundary ambulance used for a recent two-way transfer drill simulating the transfer of a patient to Conde S. Januario Hospital of Macao via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region announced today (March 27) the official implementation of the two-way transfer arrangement of the Pilot Scheme for Direct Cross-boundary Ambulance Transfer in the Greater Bay Area with Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Macao starting today. Photo shows personnel of Hong Kong and Macao who participated in a recent two-way transfer drill simulating the transfer of a patient out of the ward of Hong Kong Children's Hospital to depart for Conde S. Januario Hospital of Macao. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region announced today (March 27) the official implementation of the two-way transfer arrangement of the Pilot Scheme for Direct Cross-boundary Ambulance Transfer in the Greater Bay Area with Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Macao starting today. Photo shows the Senior Advisor (Secretary for Health's Office), Dr Joe Fan (third right), Principal Assistant Secretary for Health Ms Trinky Chan (fourth right), and other personnel of Hong Kong and Zhuhai having a meeting at Zhuhai People's Hospital after a recent two-way transfer drill. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region announced today (March 27) the official implementation of the two-way transfer arrangement of the Pilot Scheme for Direct Cross-boundary Ambulance Transfer in the Greater Bay Area with Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Macao starting today. Photo shows a Zhuhai cross-boundary ambulance used for simulating the transfer of a patient in a recent two-way transfer drill arriving at Zhuhai People's Hospital. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region announced today (March 27) the official implementation of the two-way transfer arrangement of the Pilot Scheme for Direct Cross-boundary Ambulance Transfer in the Greater Bay Area with Shenzhen, Zhuhai, and Macao starting today. Photo shows a Zhuhai cross-boundary ambulance used for simulating the transfer of a patient in a recent two-way transfer drill departing from Princess Margaret Hospital of Hong Kong to Zhuhai People's Hospital. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

LCSD's "Great Music 2026" to gather international top-notch orchestra and acclaimed musicians to perform in Hong Kong

The "Great Music 2026", presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, will bring a world-renowned orchestra and musicians to Hong Kong from June to December, offering music lovers a stellar line-up of performances. Details of the programmes are as follows:

"Gewandhausorchester Leipzig" concerts

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Date and time: June 2 and 3 (Tuesday and Wednesday), 8pm

Venue: Concert Hall, Hong Kong Cultural Centre

Ticket prices: $450 to $1,600

The Gewandhausorchester Leipzig of Germany, with a history spanning over 280 years, will return to Hong Kong after a seven-year hiatus. Under the baton of its music director and conductor Andris Nelsons, the first concert will feature two iconic works that received their premieres in Leipzig with the orchestra in the first half of the 19th century: Beethoven's "Emperor" Concerto and Schumann's Symphony No. 1 "Spring". The second concert will present Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 2 and Shostakovich's Symphony No. 10. The piano concertos in both concerts will be performed with soloist Yulianna Avdeeva, first prize winner of the 16th International Chopin Piano Competition.

This visit also marks the Hong Kong debut of Nelsons, one of the most sought-after conductors of our time, who has collaborated with world-class orchestras such as the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and the Berliner Philharmoniker. His acclaimed complete recordings of Shostakovich symphonies have also garnered Grammy Awards. These two concerts, with an impressive line-up of international top-tier orchestra, conductor and pianist, promise to be an unmissable highlight of the year for music lovers.

Duo Recital by Rafa Blechacz (Piano) and Bomsori Kim (Violin)

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Date and time: June 22 (Monday), 8pm

Venue: Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall

Ticket prices: $280 to $680

Polish pianist Rafa Blechacz, winner of the 15th International Chopin Piano Competition, and Korean violinist Bomsori Kim, laureate of the 15th International Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition, have developed a close artistic partnership in recent years. Together they have recorded an award-winning album and toured as a duo at prestigious halls worldwide. Making their reunion on stage in Hong Kong, the duo will present a programme spanning classical and early modern repertoire, featuring works by Beethoven, Paderewski, Franck and Szymanowski.

Violin Recital by Renaud Capuçon

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Date and time: October 11 (Sunday), 8pm

Venue: Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall

Ticket prices: $280 to $680

Renaud Capuçon is one of the most acclaimed violinists of our time. He has performed as a soloist and conductor with leading orchestras in various venues and served as music director of prominent festivals. The French violinist will return to Hong Kong to present a programme that is entirely dedicated to Brahms and his three sonatas for violin.

Duo Recital by Sol Gabetta (Cello) & Patricia Kopatchinskaja (Violin)

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Date and time: November 2 (Monday), 8pm

Venue: Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall

Ticket prices: $280 to $680

Grammy Award-winning violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja and cellist Sol Gabetta, laureate of the Opus Klassik Award, enchant the classical music world as dazzling and vibrant soloists and as duo partners for more than 20 years with their distinctive style of performance. In this recital, they will present an assortment of short pieces across eras - from all-time classics Ravel's sonata and Kodály's duo for violin and cello, along with a few forays (by Leclair and Bach) into the Baroque period, to works by the 20th- and 21st-century composers the artists favour, including Widmann, Ligeti, Xenakis, as well as Kopatchinskaja's own composition. This Hong Kong recital debut of the duo will surely revitalise the evening with virtuosity and zest.

Piano Recital by Jan Lisiecki

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Date and time: December 6 (Sunday), 8pm

Venue: Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall

Ticket prices: $250 to $550

Transitioned from a piano prodigy to an internationally acclaimed musician, Canadian pianist Jan Lisiecki works closely with the foremost conductors and orchestras of his time, and his albums have garnered numerous prestigious awards. After an eight-year absence, he will return to present a dance-themed solo recital programme for Hong Kong audiences. Featuring works by Martin, Falla, Szymanowski, Schubert, Bartók, Ginastera, Chopin, Brahms, Piazzolla and Albéniz, Lisiecki traces a musical journey that embraces traditions and geographies, from the refinement of the waltz to the blazing energy of the tango.

Tickets for the above-mentioned programmes will be available from March 30 (Monday) onwards at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. A 30 per cent early bird discount will be offered from March 30 until April 12 (Sunday) for each purchase of standard tickets of any two or more performances of "Great Music 2026" (which should include "Gewandhausorchester Leipzig" concerts). For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/groups_1946.html.

LCSD's "Great Music 2026" to gather international top-notch orchestra and acclaimed musicians to perform in Hong Kong Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

LCSD's "Great Music 2026" to gather international top-notch orchestra and acclaimed musicians to perform in Hong Kong Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

LCSD's "Great Music 2026" to gather international top-notch orchestra and acclaimed musicians to perform in Hong Kong Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

LCSD's "Great Music 2026" to gather international top-notch orchestra and acclaimed musicians to perform in Hong Kong Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

LCSD's "Great Music 2026" to gather international top-notch orchestra and acclaimed musicians to perform in Hong Kong Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

LCSD's "Great Music 2026" to gather international top-notch orchestra and acclaimed musicians to perform in Hong Kong Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

LCSD's "Great Music 2026" to gather international top-notch orchestra and acclaimed musicians to perform in Hong Kong Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases