Secretary for Health Attends International Healthcare Week, Highlighting Hong Kong's Role as "Super Connector"

Secretary for Health attends International Healthcare Week highlighting Hong Kong's role as "super connector"

The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, today (May 11) attended the Hospital Authority (HA) Convention 2026 and the Asia Summit on Global Health, marking the start of the annual healthcare flagship event International Healthcare Week. He also took the opportunity to meet with multiple high-level healthcare official delegations from the Mainland who came to Hong Kong to participate in the event and jointly explore co-operation in the area of healthcare.

Professor Lo said, "The HA Convention and the Asia Summit on Global Health are two major international events in the healthcare field. By gathering experts, scholars, and industry leaders in the medical and healthcare field from the Mainland and overseas in Hong Kong for in-depth exchanges, these two events not only highlight Hong Kong's international advantages in healthcare, but also fully demonstrate its vital role as a 'super connector' linking the Mainland and the world under the 'one country, two systems' principle."

Professor Lo emphasised that Hong Kong will proactively align with the National 15th Five-Year Plan by deepening reform of the healthcare system and continuously promoting the co-ordinated development of healthcare services, drugs and healthcare protection, thereby resonating in tandem with the nation's medical reform. At the same time, Hong Kong will also seize the opportunity to develop into an international health and medical innovation hub and move at full speed to align with the policies of the National 15th Five-Year Plan, with a view to building a "Healthy Hong Kong" while better integrating into and serving national development through leveraging the city's distinctive advantages of having strong support from the motherland and close connection with the world.

In the morning, Professor Lo met with Deputy Director-General of the Health Commission of Guangdong Province Mr Deng Linfeng and his delegation to explore the facilitation of healthcare talent exchanges between the two places, and to exchange views on healthcare collaborative projects such as the direct cross-boundary ambulance transfer arrangement.

Professor Lo said, "These initiatives will deepen healthcare integration within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and duly address the expectations of residents in both places for better well-being and convenience in healthcare access. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will continue to promote the active integration of the local healthcare sector into national development. With reference to Hong Kong's model and experience in specialist training, the Health Bureau will continue to explore with the Mainland the establishment of a standardised specialists training framework in the GBA, which is on par with international practices, to facilitate the exchange and cultivation of medical talent in the GBA and the nation. We will continue to work closely with Guangdong Province on the basis of complementarity and mutual benefits with a view to jointly building a 'Healthy Bay Area'."

In the afternoon, Professor Lo met with the Executive Director of the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research at the World Health Organization, Dr Kumanan Rasanathan. During the meeting, Professor Lo introduced him to the structure and strengths of Hong Kong's healthcare system and elaborated on how Hong Kong actively participates in international health co-operation with the support of the nation. He emphasised that Hong Kong will continue to leverage its unique position to contribute to global health governance, while demonstrating Hong Kong's commitment and potential as an international health and medical innovation hub.

Professor Lo will continue to meet with various delegations attending the HA Convention 2026 and the Asia Summit on Global Health in Hong Kong tomorrow (May 12).

The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau (right), meets with the Executive Director of the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research at the World Health Organization, Dr Kumanan Rasanathan (left), today (May 11) to introduce him to the structure and strengths of Hong Kong's healthcare system and elaborate on how Hong Kong actively participates in international health co-operation with the support of the nation. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau (right), meets with Deputy Director-General of the Health Commission of Guangdong Province Mr Deng Linfeng (left) today (May 11) to explore the facilitation of healthcare talent exchanges between the two places, and to exchange views on healthcare collaborative projects such as the direct cross-boundary ambulance transfer arrangement. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau (front row, fifth left), tours an exhibition booth set up at the Asia Summit on Global Health today (May 11). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau (fifth right), tours an exhibition booth set up at the Asia Summit on Global Health today (May 11). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau (second right), tours an exhibition booth set up at the Asia Summit on Global Health today (May 11). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, attended the Asia Summit on Global Health today (May 11). Photo shows (front row, from third left) Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Mr Li Yongsheng; the Chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Professor Frederick Ma; Mr Lee; Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR Mr Luo Yonggang; the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, and other guests at the event. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, attended the Hospital Authority Convention 2026 and the Asia Summit on Global Health (ASGH), marking the start of the annual healthcare flagship event International Healthcare Week today (May 11). Photo shows Professor Lo delivering a speech at the Plenary Session - Strengthening Pandemic Preparedness through Global Collaboration of the ASGH. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SCST witnesses signing of MOU between Hong Kong and Bordeaux on wine and food tourism promotion

The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, accompanied by the Chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), Dr Peter Lam, yesterday (May 11, Bordeaux time) witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Wine and Food Tourism Promotion between the HKTB and the Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux (CIVB).

Before the signing of the MOU, Miss Law and Dr Lam met with the Mayor of Bordeaux, Mr Thomas Cazenave; the Vice President of the CIVB, Mr Philippe Tapie; and the Deputy Mayor of Bordeaux and President of the Bordeaux Tourism and Conventions Office, Mr Fabien Robert, to exchange views on strengthening cultural and gastronomic promotion ties. They jointly witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Wine and Food Tourism Promotion between the HKTB and the CIVB to facilitate collaboration in the promotion of fine wine and food.

"Following my official visit last year, I am delighted to be back in the world capital of wine to further strengthen the enduring ties between Hong Kong and France," Miss Law said.

Miss Law also commented that the strong ties built with the CIVB and other key Bordeaux partners, together with the leadership of the Chairman of the HKTB, Dr Lam, and the Executive Director, Mr Anthony Lau, had made the Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival held in October last year a resounding success, attracting over 160 000 attendees during the four-day festival.

Miss Law and Dr Lam earlier visited Villa Primrose, home to the BNP Paribas Primrose International Tennis Tournament, which runs from May 11 to 17. Beyond its sporting competitions, the tournament has become a major highlight of Bordeaux's events, attracting visitors worldwide by offering a wide range of activities at the century-old Villa Primrose during the competition period.

On May 10 (Bordeaux time), Miss Law and Dr Lam visited the Bassins des Lumières. Opened in 2020 in Bordeaux, this world's largest digital art centre is housed within a vast former World War II submarine base. It features immersive 360-degree digital exhibitions, where art is projected onto concrete walls and reflected in the water of four gigantic basins. Visitors walk across footbridges or sit on the bleachers to watch masterpieces by artists such as Monet, Matisse, Frida Kahlo and Salvador Dalí set to music.

Miss Law will continue her visit to Bordeaux on May 12 (Bordeaux time).

SCST witnesses signing of MOU between Hong Kong and Bordeaux on wine and food tourism promotion Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SCST witnesses signing of MOU between Hong Kong and Bordeaux on wine and food tourism promotion Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SCST witnesses signing of MOU between Hong Kong and Bordeaux on wine and food tourism promotion Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SCST witnesses signing of MOU between Hong Kong and Bordeaux on wine and food tourism promotion Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases