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Olga Wong

Elizabeth Cheung

The head of Hong Kong’s public hospitals will leave his position when his term ends on July 31, despite attempts by the administration to retain him.
The Hospital Authority said on Thursday that chief executive Tony Ko Pat-sing had decided not to renew his contract. His decision followed the authority being asked to reform amid a manpower crunch and a slew of medical blunders.
Ko, a geriatrician who has worked in Hong Kong’s public hospital system for more than 30 years, took on the top job in 2019 and was reappointed in August 2022 for another three years, leading the authority during the Covid-19 pandemic.
He said he had made the decision to leave after thorough consideration.
“Six years is pretty standard for completeness for a position in public service,” said Ko, who turns 59 this year. “We have also smoothly transitioned from the Covid-19 epidemic and have recovered pretty well.”
He said the Health Bureau had expressed hope that he would stay in the job – sentiments echoed by authority chairman Henry Fan Hung-ling.
“It is with much regret that, despite my numerous attempts to persuade him to stay in the past few months, Dr Ko has decided to start a new chapter in his life after the contract expires,” Fan said.
“Both the Hospital Authority board and I deeply regret but fully respect his final decision.”
Health minister Lo Chung-mau expressed gratitude to Ko for his contributions to the public healthcare system.
“Dr Ko did his utmost to lead the Hospital Authority in its response to the challenges brought about by every wave of the epidemic, guiding staff of the Hospital Authority to serve the community in concerted efforts,” he said.
“His work is highly commendable.”
The board also endorsed the commencement of a recruitment exercise for a new chief executive, which is expected to be completed within the next six months. Ko said he had had detailed discussions with the authorities on the handover of his job.
His predecessor, Dr Leung Pak-yin, held the position for nine years, from 2010 to 2019.
It remains uncertain whether Fan, who has been the chairman since 2019 and was reappointed for two more years in 2023, would continue in his role when his current term expires at the end of November.
In an email to staff, Ko said he hoped to “continue giving back to the community and the healthcare system from a different perspective”.
He told reporters separately that he hoped to “take a break first”, and resume a small amount of clinical work and to pick up teaching and share his experience with young people.
For his remaining six months, Ko said he hoped to continue to follow up on the recommendations on hospital reform previously made by a panel. He also hoped to continue to push for trust and respect in the workplace, among other work.
Ko was among officials who attended press conferences during the pandemic to give updates and answer media questions. He said the pandemic was a difficult time.
“The three years of the Covid-19 epidemic were hard to endure … but the unity of colleagues was beyond my imagination and I’m very grateful to them,” he said, describing the time as a learning experience which he treasured.
One month into the top job in 2019, Ko also had to tackle issues stemming from the anti-government protests. More than 1,000 healthcare workers from 13 public hospitals staged workplace sit-ins in August that year in protest at what they said was excessive use of force by police in the protests.
Ko was previously director of cluster services at the authority’s head office. He had also served as cluster chief executive of hospitals in New Territories West.


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Dr Tony Ko Pat-sing, Chief Executive of the Hospital Authority, will quit his position at the end of July. Photo: Jelly Tse

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News

Hong Kong

Health & Environment

Ko, who led authority through Covid-19 pandemic, to step down following manpower crunch and medical blunders


Ko, who led authority through Covid-19 pandemic, to step down following manpower crunch and medical blunders.


Hong Kong economy