Microbiology Division of DH CHP's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch designated by WHO as Collaborating Centre on Quality and Capacity Building for Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System, Hosts Two International Expert Meetings

Microbiology Division of DH CHP's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch designated by WHO as Collaborating Centre on Quality and Capacity Building for Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System, hosts two international expert meetings

The Microbiology Division of the Public Health Laboratory Services Branch (PHLSB), which is under the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH), has been designated by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a Collaborating Centre on Quality and Capacity Building for the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS). This is the second WHO Collaborating Centre in China to combat influenza. The WHO representative formally presented the designation letter to the DH in Hong Kong today (June 8), and proceeded with two working group meetings attended by international experts for surveillance, preparedness, prevention and control of influenza, to be held over five days from today (June 8) until this Friday (June 12). The DH is hosting both meetings, with the Head of the PHLSB chairing the first meeting on molecular technologies on detecting existing and emerging influenza and other respiratory viruses of public health significance, testifying to the international role of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in the area of global respiratory threat management.

WHO GISRS Collaborating Centre

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The GISRS is a global platform established by the WHO for the surveillance, prevention and control of influenza. It co-ordinates the public health responses against influenza and other infections caused by respiratory pathogens. As a WHO GISRS Collaborating Centre, the Microbiology Division of the PHLSB is tasked with supporting global influenza laboratories in enhancing their quality and capacity.

The Microbiology Division of the PHLSB provides laboratory diagnostic services for disease surveillance and control, health promotion and disease prevention. It has maintained close collaboration with the WHO for many years and was designated by the WHO as a National Influenza Centre and an Influenza A H5 Reference Laboratory in 1963 and 2004 respectively. Since 2007, the Microbiology Division has also supported the WHO in organising an External Quality Assessment Programme for GISRS to ascertain the standards of laboratories worldwide and to ensure adequate testing capacity to support global effort in influenza prevention and control.

The Head of Global Respiratory Threats of the WHO, Dr Zhang Wenqing, was present at the Public Health Laboratory Centre today to officiate at the ceremony to present the letter of designation to the DH.

Dr Zhang said that the DH has been an important partner of the GISRS for decades, in particular on supporting influenza laboratories worldwide to enhance their quality and capacity for nearly 20 years, playing a crucial role in the WHO's mission on influenza surveillance, preparedness, prevention and control efforts. The DH's professional expertise, rigorous quality management system and broad experience contribute to the global influenza surveillance system, consolidating international efforts to combat influenza more effectively.

The Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam, expressed gratitude for the WHO's confidence and trust. He emphasised that the DH will continue to uphold its professionalism, safeguarding public health in Hong Kong and globally by maintaining high-quality standards.

Dr Lam said, "Staff of the PHLSB under the CHP have consistently fulfilled their role with dedication, demonstrating professionalism, high efficiency, and a strong sense of responsibility. They have steadfastly safeguarded the health of all Hong Kong citizens, particularly during major public health events, when they provided testing services selflessly and against all odds. Their efforts have provided necessary scientific information, underpinning epidemiological investigations and outbreak control, thereby preventing the community spread of infections. In addition to safeguarding the health of Hong Kong citizens, the PHLSB has also been actively participating in the WHO's laboratory networks for other communicable diseases. The designation by the WHO as Collaborating Centre on Quality and Capacity Building for the GISRS fully demonstrates that Hong Kong's public health laboratory is on par with international standards. Going forward, the DH will continue to collaborate with the WHO and its member states to actively participate in national health governance, and to leverage Hong Kong's role as a 'super connector' under the 'one country, two systems' principle, in order to serve the broader interests of national health and medical development and to act as a vital link between the Chinese Mainland and international health partners."

WHO influenza expert working group meetings

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Starting from today, the WHO is convening two successive international expert working group meetings on influenza in Hong Kong, China, bringing together influenza experts from around the world to discuss laboratory testing, and prevention and control of influenza. The meetings are conducted in hybrid format with in-person and virtual participation. The two working group meetings are the 16th Meeting of the WHO Working Group for the Molecular Detection and Subtyping of Influenza Viruses and the use of Next Generation Sequencing in the GISRS, which focuses on the application and optimisation of molecular techniques for detection and sequencing of influenza viruses; and the 15th Meeting of the WHO Working Group on Surveillance of Antiviral Susceptibility of Influenza Viruses for the GISRS, which will address core issues such as antiviral treatment for influenza and surveillance of antiviral susceptibility.

The Microbiology Division of the Public Health Laboratory Services Branch, which is under the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health (DH), has been designated by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a Collaborating Centre on Quality and Capacity Building for the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System. This is the second WHO Collaborating Centre in China to combat influenza. The WHO representative formally presented the designation letter to the DH in Hong Kong today (June 8). Photo shows the Head of Global Respiratory Threats of the WHO, Dr Zhang Wenqing (right), with the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam (left), after presenting the letter of designation to the DH. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Microbiology Division of the Public Health Laboratory Services Branch, which is under the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health (DH), has been designated by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a Collaborating Centre on Quality and Capacity Building for the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System. This is the second WHO Collaborating Centre in China to combat influenza. The WHO representative formally presented the designation letter to the DH in Hong Kong today (June 8). Photo shows the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam, addressing the ceremony. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Microbiology Division of the Public Health Laboratory Services Branch (PHLSB), which is under the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH), has been designated by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a Collaborating Centre on Quality and Capacity Building for the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System. This is the second WHO Collaborating Centre in China to combat influenza. The WHO representative formally presented the designation letter to the DH in Hong Kong today (June 8) and proceeded with two working group meetings attended by international experts for surveillance, preparedness, prevention and control of influenza. Photo shows the Head of the PHLSB under the CHP, Dr Janice Lo (first right), chairing the first meeting. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Microbiology Division of the Public Health Laboratory Services Branch (PHLSB), which is under the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH), has been designated by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a Collaborating Centre on Quality and Capacity Building for the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System. This is the second WHO Collaborating Centre in China to combat influenza. The WHO representative formally presented the designation letter to the DH in Hong Kong today (June 8). Photo shows the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam (third left); the Head of Global Respiratory Threats of the WHO, Dr Zhang Wenqing (third right); the Controller of the CHP of the DH, Dr Edwin Tsui (second left); the Head of the PHLSB under the CHP, Dr Janice Lo (first left); and members of the Global Influenza Programme of the WHO Dr Dmitriy Pereyaslov (second right) and Dr Magdi Samaan (first right). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Expansion arrangements of Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles announced

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government today (June 8) announced the expansion arrangements of Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles (Southbound Travel Scheme).

The Guangdong and Hong Kong governments implemented the Southbound Travel Scheme in end-2025, launching the part concerning the entry into the Hong Kong urban area by Guangdong vehicles (entry into urban area), and the "Park & Fly" service of the automated car park (port carpark) at the Hong Kong Port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB). Alongside Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles, the scheme enables mutual engagement through cross-boundary self-driving.

Since its implementation half a year ago, the scheme has been operating in a smooth and orderly manner. The numbers of applications and travel bookings have been on the rise. As at end of May 2026, for entry into urban area, around 8 400 applications have been approved, with a total of around 6 700 travel bookings. During the past Labour Day Golden Week of the Mainland, the bookings were oversubscribed by two to three times. As for the "Park & Fly" service of the port carpark, over 8 600 user registration applications have been received, with a total of over 4 000 bookings. These numbers are expected to continue to rise.

Taking into account the port operations, overall road traffic conditions, user feedback and public adaptation, the Guangdong and Hong Kong governments agreed to gradually expand the Southbound Travel Scheme to all of Guangdong Province. As the first step, in the middle of this year, the scheme will be expanded to all the nine Mainland cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) (i.e. adding Shenzhen, Foshan, Dongguan, Huizhou and Zhaoqing) (new cities); the travel booking quota of entry into urban area will be increased from 100 to 200 vehicles per day (each vehicle shall remain to stay in Hong Kong for up to three days); and the "Park & Visit" service of the port carpark will be launched.

Guangdong and Hong Kong will first allow Guangdong vehicles of the new cities to use the "Park & Fly" service of the port carpark starting from June 15 this year. Guangdong vehicles of the new cities will be allowed to enter Hong Kong via the HZMB and the travel booking quota will be increased starting from July 25, and at the same time the "Park & Visit" service for Guangdong vehicles of all the nine Mainland cities will be launched. Guangdong and Hong Kong will continue to monitor the implementation arrangements, and subject to the implementation situation, target to expand the scheme to all 21 cities in Guangdong Province by the first quarter in 2027.

The Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, expressed her heartfelt gratitude for the staunch support of the Central Government and the Guangdong Provincial Government in jointly taking forward the Southbound Travel Scheme in a prudent manner. "The northbound and southbound travel arrangements have opened up a new model for residents to travel between the two places by self-driving, fostering a new ground for the connectivity within the GBA through the HZMB. The Southbound Travel Scheme has been implemented in a prudent and orderly manner, and has achieved readiness for further gradual expansion. Under the strategies of ensuring safety, an effective diversion, well-equipped supporting facilities, and streamlined application processes, the HKSAR Government will continue to take forward the Southbound Travel Scheme, enabling the inflow of additional tourists from more Mainland cities, including individuals and families with higher purchasing power, to help drive Hong Kong's economic growth, and promote the integrated development of Guangdong and Hong Kong to a new level," Ms Chan said.

Implementation details

The key dates of opening of application, booking, and travel for users of the new cities are as follows:

Entry into urban area

Starting from 9am on June 9

To register for balloting with the Mainland authorities

Starting from 9am on June 29

Successful balloting applicants to submit applications to the Mainland authorities

Starting from 0.00am on July 25

To travel to Hong Kong via the HZMB according to the designated date of the successful booking

Port carparks

"Park & Fly"

Starting from 9am on June 9

To submit booking application

Starting from 0.00am on June 15

After parking at the carpark via the HZMB, travellers to transfer to flight at Hong Kong International Airport

"Park & Visit"*

Starting from 9am on July 16

To submit booking application

Starting from 0.00am on July 25

After parking at the carpark via the HZMB, travellers to go through immigration formalities at the HZMB Passenger Clearance Building and then transfer to local public transportation to travel to various districts in Hong Kong

* The "Park & Visit" service will be made available for all nine Mainland cities in the GBA at the same time.

For information regarding the specific application and travel booking guidelines under the Southbound Travel Scheme, please visit the following websites:

Guangdong's Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles Information System(Chinese only)(ycnx.singlewindow.gd.cn)

The Transport Department's dedicated webpage for the Southbound Travel Scheme (www.td.gov.hk/en/public_services/licences_and_permits/southboundtravel/stfgveiua/index.html)

The dedicated webpage jointly developed by the Insurance Authority and the Hong Kong Federation of Insurers (Chinese only) (sbt.hkfi.org.hk)

Hong Kong International Airport automated car parks online booking system (autoparking.hkairport.com)

Source: AI-found images