Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
HKPF and DPO jointly organise 9th Inter-departmental Cyber Security Drill to enhance ability of government departments to counter cyber attacks
Addressing the opening ceremony of the drill, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Chow Yat-ming, said that “The Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address” announced the introduction of a “Three-tier Prevention Framework” to strengthen counter-terrorism efforts. In this connection, a counter-terrorism segment titled “Counter-Terrorism Information Security Awareness Challenge” and the “Cyber Defence (Defense UK spelling) Tournament”, were introduced for the first time this year, aiming to bolster the Government’s overall defense capabilities against cyber terrorism threats and enhance personnel’s ability to handle cybersecurity incidents.
He pointed out that while the Government promotes digitalisation to improve administrative efficiency, it also faces increasingly severe cybersecurity challenges. All government departments must be well-prepared and strengthen inter-departmental collaboration to further prevent cyber incidents and enhance response capabilities, ensuring that Hong Kong continues to play an important and unique role within the national security framework, contributing to social stability and safeguarding national interests.
Addressing the event, the Assistant Commissioner (Project Governance and Cybersecurity) of the DPO, Ms Candy Chan, said that with the continuous development of the digital economy, cybersecurity has become a critical cornerstone for driving efficient government operations and innovation in public services. She hoped that through this exercise, participants would gain hands-on experience in detecting threats, analysing intrusions, and responding attacks effectively, thereby accumulating valuable practical experience and mastering effective strategies to counter real-world cyber threats.
The drill this year included representatives from 71 bureaux and departments, as well as industry experts from six professional and academic institutions. More than 280 personnel participated, setting new records in both scale and attendance.
The counter-terrorism segment, “Counter-Terrorism Information Security Awareness Challenge” was co-ordinated with the support of the Information Security and Technology Application Working Group. It utilised a highly interactive real-time Q&A platform to raise information security awareness and improve decision-making capabilities in responding to cybersecurity threats among senior management and IT security officers across various bureaux and departments.
In addition, the “Cyber Defence Tournament” was conducted in the form of a “blue teams versus red teams” approach, where participants formed “blue teams” to collectively respond to simulated cyber attacks launched by “red teams” composed of cybersecurity industry experts and academics in a virtual network environment.
This drill also serves as a prelude to the second Hong Kong Cybersecurity Attack and Defence Drill which will be held in October this year. The second drill will be further expanded in scale, encompassing more government departments and public organisations. Through the Inter-departmental Cyber Security Drill, participating departments can strengthen their readiness and enhance their response capabilities, laying a solid foundation for the participation in the Hong Kong Cybersecurity Attack and Defence Drills.
The Government will continue to implement various measures to enhance its cybersecurity capabilities in order to ensure all departments can effectively counter cyber attacks and uphold overall cybersecurity.
Issued at HKT 19:44
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LegCo to consider Air Passenger Departure Tax (Amendment) Bill 2025
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LegCo to consider Air Passenger Departure Tax (Amendment) Bill 2025Issued at HKT 19:29
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LegCo Panel on Public Service conducts duty visit to Shenzhen (with photos)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The Legislative Council (LegCo) Panel on Public Service conducted a duty visit to Shenzhen today (May 26) to gain insight into the developments in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) for assisting public officers in handling government administrative work. The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, and other government officials also participated in the visit.
Members visited the Government Services and Data Management bureau of the Shenzhen Municipality in Futian District in the morning to learn about how the local government has introduced “AI digital employees” to assist public officers in their work. The system began development in 2023 and utilised DeepSeek to enhance the capability of its large language model for public administration early this year. Members were informed about how public officers make use of the “AI digital employees” installed on computers and mobile phones, including for drafting official documents and handling public cases more efficiently.
Members then visited the Shenzhen Government Service Center and received a briefing by its representatives on how AI is used for providing various public services. During the visit, Members observed the services provided by the Center, and learned about the operation of the platform for addressing public concerns.
Members went to the Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court in the afternoon to learn about the operation of the nation’s first “Vertical Domain-specific Large Model” dedicated to judicial trials, which was established last year. Members observed the use of the AI-Enhanced Adjudication Assisting System, and exchanged views with representatives of the Court. The system covers the legal processes of civil, criminal and administrative litigation, helping judicial officers analyse case details, summarise facts and clarify points of contention. It also assists judges in accurately citing authoritative precedents in their rulings.
Members also toured an innovative and technology company in Nanshan District to learn how AI is being used to enhance the efficiency of legal services. The company specialises in providing enterprises with large-model services and solutions for legal compliance. Members received a briefing from company representatives on innovations in the legal services sector, followed by an exchange session.
Members who participated in the duty visit were the Chairman of the Panel, Ms Nixie Lam, the Deputy Chairman of the Panel, Mr Benson Luk, Panel members Ms Doreen Kong, Dr Johnny Ng, Mr Lam San-keung, Mr Dennis Leung, Mr Kingsley Wong, and Dr So Cheung-wing; as well as a non-Panel member Ms Maggie Chan. They returned to Hong Kong in the evening.
Hospital Authority and National Conference of University Hospital General Managers of France sign declaration of intent (with photo)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Hospital Authority (HA) and the National Conference of University Hospital General Managers of France signed a three-year declaration of intent today (May 26) to strengthen collaboration and exchanges between the two parties in various areas of hospital management and development, including promoting green hospital initiatives and the development of smart hospital, coping with an ageing population, and research and innovation.
The signing ceremony was held during the HA Convention 2025. The Special Envoy of the President of the National Conference of University Hospital General Managers, Mr Frédéric Rimattei, and the HA Chief Executive, Dr Tony Ko, signed the three-year (2025-2028) declaration of intent, witnessed by the Consul General of France in Hong Kong and Macau, Mrs Christile Drulhe; the Counsellor for Health, Social Affairs and Labor from the Embassy of France in China, Mr Romain Jacquet; the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau; and the HA Chairman, Mr Henry Fan.
The National Conference of University Hospital General Managers is composed of 32 university hospital centres in France, covering about 40 per cent of the public healthcare services in the country, and is responsible for promoting the development of medical education and clinical research. Mr Fan said that there is ample room for collaboration between the two parties in various healthcare-related areas. The signing of the declaration of intent has laid the foundation for various collaborative initiatives in the future.
Mr Fan said, “The French public healthcare system is highly acclaimed internationally, and we have much to learn from each other. I look forward to deepening our collaboration in the future, particularly in the areas of sustainable development of the healthcare system, application of smart technologies, talent exchange and training, as well as research and innovation to jointly enhance the quality and standards of healthcare services.”
The President of the National Conference of University Hospital General Managers, Mr Philippe El Saïr, said, “We are delighted to embark on an extensive collaboration with the HA. I believe that both parties will leverage their respective strengths, share experiences and expertise in various aspects of hospital management and development, and promote in-depth exchanges among healthcare professionals in the two places, as well as explore opportunities for clinical research collaboration in different areas.”
Going forward, the HA and the National Conference of University Hospital General Managers will organise regular meetings to plan various collaborative initiatives in detail, and actively arrange reciprocal visits and exchange activities to jointly foster the development of healthcare services in both places.
Fraudulent websites and internet banking login screens related to Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Fraudulent websites and internet banking login screens related to Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) LimitedIssued at HKT 17:20
The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited relating to fraudulent websites and internet banking login screens, which have been reported to the HKMA. A hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website.
The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks’ websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive personal information, such as login passwords or One-Time Password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).
Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the websites or login screens concerned, should contact the bank using the contact information provided in the press release, and report the matter to the Police by contacting the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.
Issued at HKT 17:20
SWD reminds public to remain vigilant against phone scams
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
SWD reminds public to remain vigilant against phone scamsIssued at HKT 19:00
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DH’s Community Dental Support Programme provides subsidised dental services for underprivileged over all 18 districts in Hong Kong
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
DH’s Community Dental Support Programme provides subsidised dental services for underprivileged over all 18 districts in Hong Kong
Service users of the CDSP must be a holder of a Hong Kong identity card, be enrolled in the Electronic Health Record Sharing System (eHealth), and be a current beneficiary or recipient of any of the following measures:
Under the CDSP, each service user can apply for subsidised dental services once every 180 days. Subject to the assessment by the attending registered dentist, a service user will be provided with specified subsidised dental services, including:
Each service user is required to pay an administration fee of $50 directly to the NGO for each tooth (teeth filling or teeth extraction services), that is, a maximum fee of $150 is required (treatment for a maximum of three teeth will be provided for every 180 days). If the service user receives IHCS (Frail Cases), EHCCS or HSS (Level 1 fee charge or co-payment category) of the SWD, or is eligible under the Medical Fee Waiver (full waiving) of the HA (including recipients of OALA aged 75 or above), the Government will subsidise the administration fee in full. While current beneficiaries of the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) Scheme under the SWD may apply for the CDSP for the above-mentioned subsidised dental services, they can also make use of the dental grants under the CSSA to receive comprehensive dental services.
Interested and eligible persons can refer to the list of NGO dental clinics participating in the CDSP on the DH’s thematic webpage
Through the eHealth app, service users can check their consultation records, including consultation date and treatment items. Later this year, relevant electronic oral health records will also be available through the e-Health app for service users to better understand and monitor their dental conditions.
The Government formulated the Oral Health Action Plan according to the development strategies and recommendations made by the Working Group on Oral Health and Dental Care in December 2024. The CDSP is an initiative that focuses on providing subsidised dental services to the underprivileged who have difficulties in accessing dental care.
For more information about the CDSP, please visit the DH’s CDSP webpageIssued at HKT 16:40
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Extending the Arrangement of “Providing Employment Flexibility for Aided Primary Schools to Promote STEAM Education”
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
From the 2022/23 to 2024/25 school years, aided primary schools (including special schools with a primary section) are provided with more flexibility for employment of teachers having expertise in STEAM-related subjects in aided primary schools with a view to promoting school-based STEAM education. The above arrangement is implemented on a pilot basis for three years.
New
Frequently Asked Questions (Chinese version only)
First Chest Pain Centre in Hong Kong receives national accreditation (with photos)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
First Chest Pain Centre in Hong Kong receives national accreditation
QMH began preparations for establishing the Chest Pain Centre in 2023, aligning with the Policy Address initiative to establish Hong Kong’s first chest pain centre at QMH according to national accreditation standards, aimed at improving the diagnosis process and treatment outcomes for cardiovascular patients. QMH experts subsequently visited various chest pain centres on the Mainland to learn from their experience and processes in managing cardiac patients. Mainland experts were also invited to Hong Kong to exchange insights in preparation for developing operational procedures. Hong Kong’s first chest pain centre at QMH commenced operations in November 2024. Following national accreditation standards, the centre has improved the diagnosis process for acute high-risk cardiac patients, including those with acute myocardial infarction, while promoting national chest pain centre certification as an international standard. These standards encompass standardised management, treatment efficiency improvement, and interdepartmental collaboration.
The Chief Executive of the HA, Dr Tony Ko, said, “QMH’s successful accreditation according to national standards validates its professional expertise in acute cardiac care and strengthens the HA’s ongoing commitment to enhancing cardiac services in public hospitals. The HA maintains a patient-centred approach, continuously improving healthcare service quality through multidisciplinary collaboration, streamlined treatment processes, and innovative technology adoption.”
Dr Ko added that QMH Chest Pain Centre’s successful experience will serve as an important reference for developing similar services across other HA clusters. The HA will continue to invest resources to enhance service efficiency and quality, providing better healthcare services for the public.
The China Chest Pain Centre Accreditation Committee recently sent experts, including the Chairman of the China Chest Pain Centre Expert Committee, Professor Huo Yong, and the Chairman of the China Chest Pain Centre Executive Expert Committee, Professor Xiang Dingchen, to conduct an on-site evaluation at QMH. The experts affirmed QMH Chest Pain Centre’s appropriate timing control for patient examinations and treatments, standardised and efficient overall processes, and reasonable patient care pathways, reflecting that the centre meets all certification requirements for proper handling of acute cardiac patients.
The Hospital Chief Executive of QMH, Dr Theresa Li, thanked the Mainland expert team and the Health Bureau for their support in establishing Hong Kong’s first chest pain centre and obtaining national accreditation. Dr Li said, “Every step in the treatment process is interconnected and affects patient outcomes. The accreditation standards strictly regulate each component, requiring close cooperation between different departments to ensure smooth implementation. With the completion of QMH’s new building, both hardware and software capabilities have been enhanced, which we believe will help patients secure golden treatment time and improve survival rates and post-operative recovery.”
Dr Li also expressed gratitude to the various hospital teams for their efforts in establishing and achieving accreditation for the Chest Pain Centre.
The HA will continue to optimise services and, drawing from QMH’s experience, establish a second chest pain centre at Prince of Wales Hospital according to national accreditation standards. The goal is to build a chest pain treatment network in Hong Kong to improve diagnostic efficiency, enhance treatment effectiveness, and increase patient survival rates.
Issued at HKT 16:00
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Sharing Knowledge on Clinical Advances at Hospital Authority Convention (with photos)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Hospital Authority (HA) Convention 2025 begins today for three consecutive days (May 26 to 28) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, in both in-person and online formats. This marks the first time the convention has been extended to three days, making it the HA’s largest-scale event to date. Approximately 190 overseas, Mainland and local distinguished speakers will exchange expertise on various healthcare topics with over 8,000 participating healthcare professionals and academics, achieving record-high participation levels.
The HA Convention this year is focusing on the HA’s core values, namely People-centred Care, Professional Service, Committed Staff and Teamwork. Topics include healthcare development, smart hospitals, artificial intelligence, organ transplantation, cancer management, and innovation technology in support of staff training. The HA convention aims to promote the sharing of knowledge and experience on clinical advances and approaches to modern healthcare service, and facilitate exploration and discussion of contemporary concepts among healthcare professionals and stakeholders.
The convention was officially opened this morning by Vice-Minister of the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China Professor Cao Xuetao; the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau; the HA Chairman, Mr Henry Fan; and the HA Chief Executive, Dr Tony Ko.
In his address, Mr Chan said that the HA has been continuously reforming and enhancing service efficiency and quality through its professional team and robust management system. Notably, the Institute for Medical Advancement and Clinical Excellence (IMACE), which brings together different areas of expertise from Hong Kong’s healthcare sector, was formally established this May.
“The HA will be very much involved in the IMACE’s research work, collaborating with other major public and private healthcare institutions to collect data and cases for detailed deliberations on clinical practices in the screening, diagnosis, treatment and management of various diseases, evaluating the efficacy of various medical options, and devising clinical guidelines and standards for healthcare professionals. This collective effort aims to enhance Hong Kong’s healthcare service standards for the benefit of patients throughout Hong Kong.”
In his welcome address, Mr Fan said that 2025 marks the commencement of an era of reformation at the HA. A key initiative is supporting the Government’s public healthcare fees and charges reform aimed at rationalising public hospital services, reducing wastage and misuse, and enhancing support for patients with financial difficulties.
Mr Fan said, “2025 is a crucial year for the HA’s reform initiatives. Facing challenges such as an ageing population, an increase of chronic diseases, and rising medical costs, the HA needs to undergo fundamental reforms to meet public needs, enhance service efficiency, and maintain the sustainability of the public healthcare system while building a public healthcare system that meets the needs of the community that enhances the well-being of citizens.”
Additionally, the HA established the Review Committee on the Management of the Public Hospital System last year, proposing 31 recommendations to strengthen governance, enhance accountability, and foster a culture of safety. Building on this foundation, in order to advance reform, the HA further established a high-level Governance and Structure Reform Committee (Reform Committee) last year to provide strategic guidance, oversight, and reform advice to promote the sustainable development of healthcare services.
Mr Fan continued, “Among the many topics that the Reform Committee will be looking into, remuneration structure, financial management and clinical management are particularly crucial. This includes introducing the concept of ‘more contribution, more gain’, with remuneration commensurate with performance and contributions to provide motivation for colleagues, reviewing the financial management system to achieve cost savings, and utilising modern technology to optimise clinical outcomes.”
Delivering his keynote address at the opening ceremony, “Advancing Sustainable Excellence”, Dr Ko reviewed the HA’s 35 years of experience and shared his vision for a sustainable, patient-centred public healthcare system.
“With a rapidly ageing population, swift medical technological advancements, and unpredictable threats of global pandemics, we must remain proactive in driving bold reforms. Digital transformation is central to our strategy in addressing rising healthcare demands. The HA is committed to enhancing digital innovation, integrating big data and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to improve service efficiency and performance while enhancing both patient and healthcare staff experiences,” Dr Ko said.
He said that the HA Go mobile application continues to stand as a transformative patient empowerment platform, significantly improving patient experience through technology. “HA Go now has over 3.1 million registered users, empowers patients with easy access to self care and direct interaction with healthcare services. HA Go streamlines the patient journey through offering seamless features such as outpatient appointment management, registration, payments, digital queuing updates, all accessible within a few clicks. The platform also provides patients with options for medication delivery services, which embodies our patient-centred service mission”, Dr Ko said.
He emphasised, “While technology advances, staff remain the irreplaceable core of quality healthcare services. We are committed to providing our staff members with opportunities for personal growth and professional development. The HA sponsored more than 2,600 staff members to participate in training programmes in various places in 2024/25. Through immersive exchange and training initiatives, our healthcare professionals have gained valuable exposure to diverse clinical practices and perspectives. Such experiences foster mutual learning and encourage broader horizons for all staff.”
In addition to retaining and cultivating existing personnel, Dr Ko said that it is equally important to reach out to new talent from outside. The HA actively recruits non-locally trained doctors and nurses. As of mid-March this year, nearly 300 non-locally trained doctors have joined the HA team, nearly double in comparison to last year. Following the Nurses Registration (Amendment) Ordinance 2024, more than 100 non-locally trained nursing candidates have also been employed, further reinforcing Hong Kong’s clinical capabilities. Over 240 individuals have taken part in expanded clinical exchange programmes, while more than 100 Chinese Medicine practitioners in the HA received training from Mainland experts.
Dr Ko stressed that the HA must highlight the deep collaboration with counterparts in the Mainland, which is vital to the growth and evolution of the local healthcare landscape. A key area of collaboration is enhancing services for major diseases such as cardiac illnesses and strokes. To drive integrated and high-quality care, the HA is establishing chest pain centres and national stroke centres, harmonising treatment protocols and elevating outcomes through national accreditation. The first chest pain centre in Hong Kong at Queen Mary Hospital has been established according to national accreditation standards, further optimising treatment options for cardiovascular patients.
“In line with the Chief Executive’s policy direction to enhance Hong Kong’s healthcare standards, the first batch of public hospitals, including Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital and Prince of Wales Hospital, have been awarded accreditation status under the China’s International Hospital Accreditation Standards (2021 Version). To ensure consistent quality improvement across hospitals throughout the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, three additional acute hospitals will embark on their accreditation journey in 2025-26, further strengthening their international presence and raising the quality and safety of healthcare services.”
In conclusion, Dr Ko said, “We are living in an era of profound transformation. Let us uphold the spirit that ‘reform is an ongoing journey’, embrace technological innovation, sustain healthcare excellence, optimise resource allocation, and enhance service efficiency and quality to swiftly respond to the community’s evolving needs.” He expressed confidence that with the determination of all members of the HA and the support from the community and partners, the HA will collectively shape a brighter, more sustainable future for in public healthcare.