Advance Decision on Life-sustaining Treatment Ordinance Comes into Effect

Advance Decision on Life-sustaining Treatment Ordinance comes into effect today

The Advance Decision on Life-sustaining Treatment Ordinance (Cap. 651) (the Ordinance) comes intoeffect today (July 31), providing a legal framework for advance medical directives (AMDs) and do-not-attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation (DNACPR) orders, as well as legal protection for healthcare professionals and rescuers when complying with the directives and orders.

A spokesperson for the Health Bureau (HHB) said, "The Government's policy objective is to ensure that terminally ill patients and their families receive appropriate end-of-life care services and support. The purpose of AMDs and DNACPR orders under the Ordinance is to respect patients' autonomous choices regarding life-sustaining treatment (LST), allowing them to conclude their life's voyage with peace and dignity. The commencement of the Ordinance marks a new milestone in Hong Kong's end-of-life care services."

Health Bureau, Photo source: reference image

An AMD allows an adult patient suffering from an advanced and irreversible disease, while he/she is mentally capable of deciding on an LST, to indicate in advance the LST(s) (for example, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, artificial ventilation, and artificial nutrition and hydration) that he/she wishes to refuse should he/she subsequently lose mental capacity and the preconditions specified in the AMD are met. An AMD does not, however, allow the refusal of basic care or palliative care. In line with the principle of "cautious making, easy revoking", the maker must, before making an AMD, fully understand and carefully weigh the implications of each instruction for his/her own condition to make an informed decision, and the AMD must comply with a number of statutory requirements. The maker may also revoke the AMD at any time in the manner specified in the Ordinance.

A DNACPR order, made by registered medical practitioners for a patient who has met the specified preconditions, seeks to ensure that, in settings outside hospitals and even when no healthcare professionals are present, rescuers will act in accordance with the relevant DNACPR order and will not perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the patient.

Upon commencement of the Ordinance, healthcare professionals and rescuers are required to act in accordance with the patient's AMD or DNACPR order when they have notice of it and the preconditions specified in the Ordinance are met. Under the principle of"if in doubt, save lives first", the Ordinance provides legal protection for healthcare professionals and rescuers, exempting them from the relevant legal liability where, for example, they administer an LST to a patient because they do not have notice of a valid and applicable AMD or DNACPR order, or they withhold an LST from a patient because they honestly and reasonably believe that the patient has a valid and applicable AMD or DNACPR order.

The Ordinance was passed by the Legislative Council in November 2024. The Government subsequently provided a preparatory period of about one and a half years for stakeholders to get ready for its implementation, and gazetted on May 22, 2026, appointing July 31 as the date on which the Ordinance comes into operation. In preparation for the commencement of the Ordinance, the HHB has worked in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, including policy bureaux and departments, public and private healthcare institutions, residential care homes (RCHs), professional bodies and emergency rescue service organisations, to take forward a range of preparatory work. This includes organising professional training seminars for the personnel concerned (such as healthcare professionals of public and private healthcare institutions, frontline rescue and management staff of government departments and organisations involved in emergency rescues, and staff of RCHs), and updating the relevant service and operational guidelines. The Government has also promoted public understanding of the Ordinance through interdepartmental and cross-sectoral public education and publicity activities, and will continue with these efforts.

Members of the public who wish to learn more about AMDs and DNACPR orders, or who are considering making an AMD, may discuss the matter with a doctor familiar with their condition, who will offer suitable advice having regard to the patient's circumstances. Further information on the Ordinance is available on the HHB's thematic webpage at www.healthbureau.gov.hk/en/press_and_publications/otherinfo/241100_adlto/index.html.

Medical treatment, Photo source: reference image

Approved Kwai Chung Outline Zoning Plan amended

The Town Planning Board today (July 31) announced amendments to the approved Kwai Chung Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).

The amendments mainly involve (i) rezoning a site at the junction of Lei Muk Road and Kwok Shui Road from "Other Specified Uses" ("OU") annotated "Buildings with Historical and Architectural Interests Preserved for Social Welfare Facility Use", "Open Space" and an area shown as 'Road' to "Residential (Group A)5"; (ii) revision to the building height restriction of the "OU" annotated "Columbarium" ("OU(Columbarium)") zone at Tsing Tsuen Road; (iii) rezoning three strips of land at Tsing Tsuen Road from "Green Belt" and "Industrial" ("I") to "OU(Columbarium)"; (iv) rezoning three parcels of land near Wing Kei Road and to the east of Tsuen Wan Chinese Permanent Cemetery (TWCPC) from "OU(Columbarium)", "OU" annotated "Cemetery" ("OU(Cemetery)") and "OU" annotated "Funeral Parlours and Crematorium" ("OU(FPC)") to "I"; (v) rezoning a parcel of land to the east of TWCPC from "OU(Cemetery)" and "I" to "OU(FPC)"; and (vi) rezoning a site at Wo Yi Hop Road from "OU" annotated "Business" to "Residential (Group E)2".

The Notes and Explanatory Statement of the OZP are amended to take into account the above amendments. Opportunity is also taken to update the general information of various land use zones and the planning scheme area, where appropriate.

The draft Kwai Chung OZP No. S/KC/33, incorporating the amendments, is available for public inspection during office hours at (i) the Secretariat of the Town Planning Board, (ii) the Planning Enquiry Counters, (iii) the Tsuen Wan and West Kowloon District Planning Office, and (iv) the Kwai Tsing District Office.

Any person may make written representations in respect of the amendments to the Secretary of the Town Planning Board on or before September 30, 2026. Any person who intends to make a representation is advised to read the Town Planning Board Guidelines No. 29C on "Submission and Processing of Representations and Further Representations" (TPB PG-No. 29C).

Submission of a representation should comply with the requirements set out in TPB PG-No. 29C. In particular, the representer should take note of the following:

* If the representer fails to provide his or her full name and the first four alphanumeric characters of his or her Hong Kong identity card or passport number as required under TPB PG-No. 29C, the representation submitted shall be treated as not having been made; and

* The Secretariat of the Town Planning Board reserves the right to require the representer to provide identity proof for verification.

The Guidelines and the submission form are available at the above locations (i) and (ii) and the Town Planning Board's website (www.tpb.gov.hk).

Copies of the draft Kwai Chung OZP are available for sale at the Map Publications Centre in North Point. The electronic version of the OZP can be viewed on the Town Planning Board's website (www.tpb.gov.hk).