eHealth launches new eMedical Certificate function to offer one-stop platform for access and verification of electronic medical certificates issued by public sector
The Health Bureau (HHB) announced today (April 24) that a new eMedical Certificate function on the eHealth mobile application (eHealth App) was launched today. This enables over 6.5 million eHealth users in Hong Kong to access and verify all electronic medical certificates issued by the public sector through a one-stop centralised platform, thereby facilitating centralised management and usage of personal medical documents for a more convenient and secure service experience.
Through the eMedical Certificate function on the eHealth App, eHealth users can access electronic medical certificates issued by different public healthcare providers anytime and anywhere, including important medical documents such as medical certificates, attendance certificates, maternity/sick leave certificates, and maternity leave certificates. In addition to the Hospital Authority (HA), the function also covers electronic medical certificates issued by the Department of Health and the 18 Chinese Medicine Clinics cum Training and Research Centres for the first time. Furthermore, the eMedical Certificate function features a central verification mechanism. By simply scanning the QR code on an electronic medical document, the system will automatically redirect to the Medical Certificate Verification Platform of eHealth for immediate verification of the authenticity and validity of the document, thereby effectively preventing forgery or alteration. At the same time, citizens can also connect to the central verification mechanism of eHealth directly through the electronic platforms of healthcare providers (such as HA Go), enabling seamless verification of electronic medical certificates. The new function is expected to benefit over one million citizens. Members of the public may refer to the annex for a detailed user guide of the new function.
A spokesman for the HHB said, "Under the eHealth+ five-year development plan, we are actively turning the eHealth App into an integrated health management tool, with a view to empowering citizens to more conveniently manage the healthcare needs of their own and their family members through a single central platform - eHealth. The rollout of the eMedical Certificate function marks yet another important milestone in eHealth's transformation into a unified health platform across Hong Kong. All electronic medical certificates issued by public healthcare providers will be consolidated, stored and verifiable through eHealth. At the same time, electronic platforms of healthcare providers (such as HA Go) can also be seamlessly connected to the Medical Certificate Verification Platform of eHealth as auxiliary interfaces, thereby offering added convenience for citizens. Electronic medical documents not only reduce the risk of losing paper certificates, but also fully support a range of online services and allow citizens to access and use them at any time. With the eMedical Certificate function, citizens can store and verify various medical documents issued by different public and private healthcare providers, enabling centralised management and everyday use, such as applying for leave from employers or schools, school enrolment, job applications and travel."
To support the development of the eMedical Certificate function, the Electronic Health Record Sharing System (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 came into effect in December last year, providing a clear legal basis for electronic medical documents issued or verified through eHealth. At present, all electronic medical certificates, electronic attendance certificates, electronic maternity leave certificates and electronic maternity/sick leave certificates verified through eHealth comply with the relevant legal requirements and carry the same legal status as their paper counterparts. Looking ahead, the Government will gradually extend the eMedical Certificate function to more private healthcare providers, and expand its coverage to a broader range of medical documents, including the development of an electronic vaccination card and an electronic advance medical directive, with a view to offering greater convenience to citizens.
For more details, members of the public may visit the eHealth thematic website or call the hotline at 3467 6300. The hotline service runs from 9am to 9pm from Mondays to Fridays (except public holidays).
Source: AI-found images
27 landlords of subdivided units under regulated tenancies convicted of contravening relevant statutory requirements
Twenty-seven landlords of subdivided units (SDUs), who contravened Part IVA of the Landlord and Tenant (Consolidation) Ordinance (Cap. 7) (the Ordinance), pleaded guilty and were fined between $800 and $22,400, amounting to a total of $119,700, on April 10, April 17 and today (April 24) at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts. Since the Ordinance came into force, the Rating and Valuation Department (RVD) has continuously strengthened enforcement actions and has prosecuted a total of 1 538 cases to date. Among the 1 168 cases dealt with by the court, all were successfully convicted, which involved a total of 1 023 SDU landlords, amounting to a total of $3,178,960 in fines. In addition, 370 cases are pending a hearing.
The offences of these 27 landlords include (1) failing to submit a Notice of Tenancy (Form AR2) to the Commissioner of Rating and Valuation within 60 days after the term of the regulated tenancy commenced; (2) failing to produce copies of the bills and provide an account in writing when requiring the tenant to pay for the reimbursement of the apportioned water and/or electricity charges; and (3) requesting the tenant to pay money other than the types permitted under the Ordinance (including requiring the tenant to pay an amount of rent for the second-term tenancy exceeding the maximum amount of rent permitted under the Ordinance).
The RVD earlier discovered that the landlords failed to comply with the relevant requirements under the Ordinance. Upon a comprehensive investigation and evidence collection, the RVD prosecuted the landlords.
A spokesman for the RVD reiterated that SDU landlords must comply with the relevant requirements under the Ordinance, including prohibiting landlords from doing any act calculated to interfere with the peace or comfort of members of the tenant's household, with the intention of causing the tenant to give up occupation of the SDU; or requiring the tenant to pay an amount of rent for the second-term tenancy exceeding the maximum amount of rent permitted under the Ordinance, and also reminded tenants of their rights under the Ordinance, including a four-year (i.e. two years plus two years) security of tenure. He also stressed that the RVD will continue to take resolute enforcement action against any contraventions of the Ordinance. Apart from following up on reported cases, the RVD has been adopting a multipronged approach to proactively identify, investigate and follow up on cases concerning landlords who are suspected of contravening the Ordinance. In particular, the RVD has been requiring landlords of regulated tenancies to provide information and reference documents of their tenancies for checking whether they have complied with the requirements of the Ordinance. If a landlord, without reasonable excuse, refuses to provide the relevant information or neglects the RVD's request, the landlord commits an offence and is liable to a maximum fine at level 3 ($10,000) and to imprisonment for three months. Depending on the actual circumstances, and having regard to the information and evidence collected, the RVD will take appropriate actions on individual cases, including instigating prosecution against suspected contraventions of the Ordinance. In addition, the RVD has started a new round of publicity and education work to enhance public awareness about the key offences and penalties, emphasising that the RVD proactively checks whether landlords have committed the offences under the Ordinance.
To help curb illegal acts as soon as possible, members of the public should report to the RVD promptly any suspected cases of contravening the relevant requirements. Reporting can be made through the telephone hotline (2150 8303), by email (enquiries@rvd.gov.hk), by fax (2116 4920), by post (15/F, Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon), or in person (visiting the Tenancy Services Section office of the RVD at 7/F, South Tower, Tseung Kwan O Government Offices, 30 Tong Yin Street, Tseung Kwan O, New Territories, and please call 2150 8303 to make an appointment). Furthermore, the RVD has provided a form (Form AR4) (www.rvd.gov.hk/doc/en/forms/ar4.pdf) on its website to enable SDU tenants' reporting to the RVD.
The RVD reminds that pursuant to the Ordinance, a regulated cycle of regulated tenancies is to comprise two consecutive regulated tenancies (i.e. the first-term tenancy and second-term tenancy) for an SDU, and the term of each regulated tenancy is two years. A tenant of a first-term tenancy for an SDU is entitled to be granted a second-term tenancy of the regulated cycle, thus enjoying a total of four years of security of tenure. The RVD has been issuing letters enclosing relevant information to the landlords and tenants concerned of regulated tenancies in batches, according to the expiry time of their first-term tenancies, to assist them in understanding the important matters pertaining to the second-term tenancy, and to remind them about the procedures that need to be followed about two months prior to the commencement of the purported second-term tenancy as well as their respective obligations and rights under the Ordinance. These landlords and tenants may also visit the dedicated page for the second-term tenancy on the RVD's website (www.rvd.gov.hk/en/tenancy_matters/second_term_tenancy.html) for the relevant information, including a concise guide, brochures, tutorial videos and frequently asked questions. The landlords and tenants concerned are also advised to familiarise themselves with the relevant statutory requirements and maintain close communication regarding the second-term tenancy for handling the matters properly and in a timely manner according to the Ordinance.
For enquiries related to regulated tenancies, please call the telephone hotline (2150 8303) or visit the RVD's webpage (www.rvd.gov.hk/en/our_services/part_iva.html) for the relevant information.
Source: AI-found images
