LCQ17: Care services for terminally-ill patients – MIL Asia Pacific Publishing Engine

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

LCQ17: Care services for terminally-ill patients

(Actual)(Total number of inpatient and day inpatient discharges and deaths) (Number of attendances) (Number of attendances)(Number of attendances) Support for dying-in-place is an integral component of EoL care. For terminally ill patients who choose to pass away in their place of residence, we have been providing appropriate support. In terms of hardware, the SWD has been supporting RCHEs and residential care homes for persons with disabilities (RCHDs) in adopting various models to provide EoL care services. Since September 2017, all newly established contract homes have been equipped with an EoL care room, allowing residents to face death with dignity and peace in a familiar environment. The SWD also encourages existing RCHEs and RCHDs to make flexible use of space to provide the relevant services. Regarding legislation, under the Coroners Ordinance (Cap. 504), deaths that meet specified conditions and occur at home are not required to be reported to the Coroner. To facilitate terminally ill patients residing in RCHDs and RCHEs that are not nursing homes in opting for dying-in-place arrangements, we amended the relevant provisions of the Coroners Ordinance and the Births and Deaths Registration Ordinance (Cap. 174) in June 2024 to provide that deaths complying with the statutory conditions are also exempt from the requirement of reporting to the Coroner. The Government has been collecting relevant information through various channels to keep track of service trends, including the on-going collection of service utilisation data related to EoL care through the CGATs. Notably, the number of deaths in RCHEs participating in the Jockey Club End‑of‑Life Community Care Project (JCECC) (Note 3) was 27 between 2016 to June 2024. Following the implementation of the legislative amendments in June 2024, the figure rose to 75 by the end of 2025 (Note 4). Such increase demonstrates that, with the gradual enhancement of service support and the flexibility brought about by the legislation, there has been growth in the number of cases choosing to pass away in residential care homes, reflecting a steady increase in the acceptance of dying-in-place arrangements among terminally ill patients and their families. The Government will continue to collect relevant data for reference when reviewing the planning of EoL care services.

(4) The number of AMDs made within the HA from 2023 to 2025 is tabulated as follows:

Year The number of DNACPR orders made within the HA from 2023 to 2025 is tabulated as follows:

Year(5) and (6) To ensure the smooth implementation of the Ordinance in mid-2026, the Government has allocated an adequate preparation period following its passage to allow healthcare institutions, relevant departments, and organisations to make the necessary transitional arrangements. The latest progress of the relevant preparation work is summarised as follows:

On formulating or updating guidelines, the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine has issued the “Best Practice Guidelines on Advance Medical Directives”, which elucidates the application of the Ordinance and provides practical operational guidance to better equip doctors with the knowledge of the legislative requirements when formulating and implementing AMDs and DNACPR orders. In addition, the HA has revised the “Guidelines on Life-Sustaining Treatment for Patients Approaching End of Life” in October 2025 for reference by healthcare staff. For RCHEs and RCHDs, the SWD has provided reference guidelines on EoL care services to residential care homes in May 2024, offering practical advice on implementing EoL care services (including formulating advance care plans and AMDs).Issued at HKT 16:40

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