https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/523283/feed The latest news and top stories on Hospital Authority of Hong Kong, a statutory body that manages the city's public hospitals and clinics. Its main responsibility is to ensure comprehensive affordable healthcare services for residents. It also develops smart hospitals and recruits healthcare professionals. It is headquartered at 147B Argyle Street in Kowloon. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng A growing number of former senior government officials have joined the race for seats on Hong Kong’s Election Committee, a trend observers say will enhance the prestige and legitimacy of the body tasked with choosing the city’s next leader. As the two-week nomination period draws to a close next Tuesday, the Registration and Electoral Office had received 1,115 nominations for 982 elected seats on the Election Committee as of Friday. The poll will be held on November 22 and the elected members... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3371204/growing-number-ex-officials-enter-race-hong-kong-election-committee-seats https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3371204/growing-number-ex-officials-enter-race-hong-kong-election-committee-seats Sat, 17 Oct 2026 01:00:10 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung Private hospitals and clinics have thrown their support behind proposed Hong Kong government measures that will make their pricing more transparent, such as publishing annual billing statistics, despite potentially higher operating costs. Healthcare providers said on Friday that the latest proposed measures, which could start with private hospitals from August next year at the earliest, were “feasible” and “reasonable”. Details were set out in a document submitted by the Health Bureau to the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3371134/hong-kong-private-healthcare-providers-face-new-rules-make-fees-more-transparent https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3371134/hong-kong-private-healthcare-providers-face-new-rules-make-fees-more-transparent Fri, 16 Oct 2026 07:35:40 +0000 Jeffie Lam Jeffie Lam Hong Kong’s Hospital Authority has appealed to the public for a liver donation for a 13-year-old boy suffering from severe liver failure who urgently needs a transplant. The authority, which is also seeking help from mainland China, said on Thursday evening that the boy, being treated at Queen Mary Hospital in Pok Fu Lam, was now in a serious condition. “The patient has been experiencing severe hepatic failure and developed severe complications including recurrent hyperammonemia and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3371059/hong-kongs-hospital-authority-appeals-liver-donor-boy-13 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3371059/hong-kongs-hospital-authority-appeals-liver-donor-boy-13 Thu, 15 Oct 2026 16:15:39 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong has long prided itself on the quality and coverage of its public healthcare system. But it has not opened a hospital on the scale of the new one at Kai Tak, on the old airport site, for decades. Recent stand-alone developments like the North Lantau or Tin Shui Wai hospitals are significantly smaller. It is important that the opening goes smoothly. About 350 patients on day one is an impressive start, but that is expected to reach 1,800 a day by year’s end. The opening of Kai Tak... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3370013/kai-tak-hospital-promises-set-new-benchmark-public-healthcare https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3370013/kai-tak-hospital-promises-set-new-benchmark-public-healthcare Wed, 07 Oct 2026 23:15:07 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong education authorities have revealed that at least 60 per cent of suspected student suicide cases in the last three academic years involved children aged 15 or below, urging schools to avoid giving excessive homework so pupils can lead a balanced lifestyle. The Education Bureau also told lawmakers on Wednesday that school principals had directly referred 547 students at high risk of suicide to the public health system over the past 2½ years. On average, principals had referred about 17... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3370055/60-hong-kongs-suspected-student-suicides-involved-children-aged-15-or-below https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3370055/60-hong-kongs-suspected-student-suicides-involved-children-aged-15-or-below Wed, 07 Oct 2026 11:00:18 +0000 Lexi Tian Lexi Tian Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Hospital launched its first phase of operations, treating about 350 patients at its family medicine centre on Monday, with the daily number projected to reach 1,800 by the end of the year. While patients welcomed the service, lawmakers called for more frequent feeder transport and better publicity about transit options. Positioned to become Hong Kong’s largest public hospital once fully operational, Kai Tak Hospital opened its family medicine integrated centre on Monday to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3369769/kai-tak-hospital-starts-first-phase-operations-treats-300-patients-day-1 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3369769/kai-tak-hospital-starts-first-phase-operations-treats-300-patients-day-1 Mon, 05 Oct 2026 06:38:03 +0000 Lexi Tian Lexi Tian Hong Kong’s Hospital Authority has adopted artificial intelligence (AI) and robotic automation at its new support services centre to handle laundry and meal production for public hospitals, aiming to boost efficiency and worker safety. The six-storey, 62,000-square-metre centre, which houses the central laundry and food production unit, opened its doors to the press for the first time on Tuesday since beginning operations in March last year. Located in Tung Chung on Lantau Island, the facility... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/article/3369221/ai-robotic-arms-power-hong-kong-public-hospital-laundry-and-meal-centre https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/article/3369221/ai-robotic-arms-power-hong-kong-public-hospital-laundry-and-meal-centre Tue, 29 Sep 2026 11:11:13 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Less than 0.5 per cent of registered Hong Kong nurses received their training outside the city, while 99.8 per cent of those working in public hospitals are locally trained, health authorities have said amid a growing row with a trade union over employment concerns. The latest figures were released on Tuesday after the city’s health minister repeatedly rejected claims that authorities had favoured mainland Chinese nurses over local candidates. On Saturday, the Association of Hong Kong Nursing... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3369171/05-nurses-trained-outside-hong-kong-authorities-say-amid-hiring-row https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3369171/05-nurses-trained-outside-hong-kong-authorities-say-amid-hiring-row Tue, 29 Sep 2026 07:18:58 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen The city’s health minister has rejected claims that authorities favour mainland Chinese nurses over local candidates, saying Hong Kong-trained professionals have a “very good chance” of finding work because public hospitals are struggling to recruit. Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau said on Friday that the Hospital Authority had hired 95 per cent of local applicants for nursing positions over the past year. The figure rose to 99 per cent among applicants with registered nurse qualifications. He... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3368770/health-chief-rejects-claims-chinese-nurses-are-favoured-over-local-candidates https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3368770/health-chief-rejects-claims-chinese-nurses-are-favoured-over-local-candidates Fri, 25 Sep 2026 05:55:28 +0000 Nicole Hurip Nicole Hurip Young minds, big ideas: meet five laureates of the AIA Scholarships programme, which was founded on the belief that education can open doors not only for individuals, but for the communities they will one day serve. See our other features, on Zara Chui Siu-wa, Selina Wong Yuen-shan, Wilson Cheng Wui-sum and Atta Yu Yee-ting In manageable doses, stress drives growth: muscles strengthen, memory sharpens and the mind learns to thrive. But prolonged, unmanaged stress can reverse those gains,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/postmag/native/topics/aia-scholarships/article/3368685/how-king-chan-plans-mainstream-mental-health-solutions-highly-stressed-hong-kong https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/postmag/native/topics/aia-scholarships/article/3368685/how-king-chan-plans-mainstream-mental-health-solutions-highly-stressed-hong-kong Fri, 25 Sep 2026 00:04:06 +0000 Fiona Chow Fiona Chow A Hong Kong-registered lift engineer held liable for faulty installation work at Queen Mary Hospital’s new block has been sentenced to 160 hours of community service after being convicted of submitting misleading documents and improperly issuing safety certificates. Eastern Court sentenced Law Wing-chai, 54, on Wednesday for two summary offences under the Lifts and Escalators Ordinance. The sentence came a month after authorities revealed that 24 of the 28 lifts in the new block of Hong Kong... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3368479/engineer-gets-160-hours-community-service-over-queen-mary-hospital-lift-defects https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3368479/engineer-gets-160-hours-community-service-over-queen-mary-hospital-lift-defects Wed, 23 Sep 2026 06:37:40 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong education authorities have cut the number of subsidised places for physiotherapy and occupational therapy programmes at three self-financing institutions by about a third for the 2027-28 academic year, amid a jobs crunch for graduates. A physiotherapy association backed the reduction to avoid worsening unemployment in the sector, saying any future increase in places would depend on government funding. The Education Bureau on Monday announced that its Study Subsidy Scheme for Designated... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/education/article/3368286/subsidised-physiotherapy-places-slashed-third-amid-graduate-job-crunch https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/education/article/3368286/subsidised-physiotherapy-places-slashed-third-amid-graduate-job-crunch Mon, 21 Sep 2026 13:05:04 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung A Hong Kong patient died after suffering a heart attack when he was fed a regular meal instead of the required soft food and choked at Prince of Wales Hospital. The public hospital in Sha Tin issued a public apology on Friday and said it had appointed an eight-person panel to look into the blunder. A report, along with recommendations for improvement measures, is expected in eight weeks. The 54-year-old male patient was admitted to hospital on Wednesday morning “due to deteriorated mental... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3368066/patient-who-needed-soft-food-dies-after-choking-regular-meal-public-hospital https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3368066/patient-who-needed-soft-food-dies-after-choking-regular-meal-public-hospital Fri, 18 Sep 2026 14:57:56 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung Hong Kong will strive to raise its expenditure on innovation activities to a level equivalent to 3 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) by around 2030, nearly double the current rate, according to the city’s first five-year plan. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu unveiled the ambitious goal, together with measures to boost frontier technologies, including aerospace research, on Wednesday. Among the 22 indicators laid out in the plan, the government aims to raise the ratio of total domestic... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3367767/hong-kong-aims-raise-innovation-spending-3-gdp-about-2030 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3367767/hong-kong-aims-raise-innovation-spending-3-gdp-about-2030 Wed, 16 Sep 2026 15:30:33 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong aims to reduce the risk of premature deaths from some major chronic diseases to 6.9 per cent by 2030 by investing heavily in primary healthcare and prevention, authorities have said. Delivering his annual policy address and the city’s first five-year plan, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Wednesday also unveiled plans to develop the city’s first integrated ambulatory care hospital at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital site in King’s Park after its relocation to Kai Tak. The facility will... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3367730/hong-kong-invest-primary-care-cut-premature-death-risk-69 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3367730/hong-kong-invest-primary-care-cut-premature-death-risk-69 Wed, 16 Sep 2026 10:39:03 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au A senior Hong Kong government officer who oversaw faulty lift installation work that stalled the launch of a new block at Queen Mary Hospital was asked to resign and left her post last month to take responsibility for the defects, the South China Morning Post has learned. But the Architectural Services Department (ASD) denied any “forced resignation” was involved in a reply to the SCMP on Saturday night. The officer tendered her resignation for personal reasons and gave three months’ notice,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3367266/senior-official-asked-resign-over-defective-lifts-queen-mary-hospital https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3367266/senior-official-asked-resign-over-defective-lifts-queen-mary-hospital Sat, 12 Sep 2026 00:30:06 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Hong Kong authorities have reserved the right to seek compensation from contractors over faulty lift installation work that has delayed operations at Queen Mary Hospital’s new block, the development minister has said. Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho said on Tuesday that the main contractor, a Paul Y-Able joint venture, and lift subcontractor Anlev Elex Elevator would be required to bear all costs of remedial work, ensuring public expenditure on the project would not... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3366761/hong-kong-reserves-right-seek-compensation-over-faulty-hospital-lift-work https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3366761/hong-kong-reserves-right-seek-compensation-over-faulty-hospital-lift-work Tue, 08 Sep 2026 08:38:23 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying In the fourth instalment of a five-part Health Matters wellness series on Hong Kong’s growing wellness trends, Lo Hoi-ying examines how telehealth is reshaping access to care, as practitioners warn it cannot fully replace in-person diagnosis. Hong Kong housewife Chan Ket-yee, nearly 60, has battled severe eczema on her neck and underarms for decades. Splitting her time between the United Kingdom and the city, Chan saw a dramatic improvement after visiting a Hong Kong public dermatologist, whose... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3366499/there-are-trade-offs-how-hong-kong-patients-can-use-telemedicine-wisely https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3366499/there-are-trade-offs-how-hong-kong-patients-can-use-telemedicine-wisely Sun, 06 Sep 2026 11:00:07 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong’s tax chief has apologised after the ombudsman found that unclear wording in the eTAX system led to more than 33,000 people leaving their returns incomplete, triggering penalty notices for almost 5,200 taxpayers and the prosecution of two. “Some taxpayers were unable to complete the submission of their tax returns; we apologise for the inconvenience caused to them,” Commissioner of Inland Revenue Benjamin Chan Sze-wai told a radio programme on Tuesday. “The system is under the Inland... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3365925/ex-official-among-33019-who-failed-complete-etax-filings-amid-unclear-wording https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3365925/ex-official-among-33019-who-failed-complete-etax-filings-amid-unclear-wording Tue, 01 Sep 2026 04:50:54 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words. Hong Kong faces profound structural challenges related to the rising prevalence of chronic diseases among the ageing population, and the associated problems of loneliness and the burden on caregivers. As the government prepares its inaugural five-year plan, this moment offers a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3365396/fix-hong-kongs-healthcare-silos-link-workers https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3365396/fix-hong-kongs-healthcare-silos-link-workers Fri, 28 Aug 2026 03:30:09 +0000 Cannix Yau Cannix Yau About 280,000 patients have secured full fee waivers since Hong Kong’s public healthcare charges were overhauled at the start of the year, a 20-fold increase from the previous figure of 14,000, the health minister has said. Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau revealed the figures on Saturday as he defended the reform, which raised user fees for non-urgent and less serious services to reduce the government subsidy rate. He said the changes were intended to optimise the use of existing resources and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3364912/full-fee-waivers-rise-20-fold-280000-after-healthcare-reform-minister-says https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3364912/full-fee-waivers-rise-20-fold-280000-after-healthcare-reform-minister-says Sat, 22 Aug 2026 07:08:08 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words. As Hong Kong prepares for its first five-year planning cycle, long-term urban sustainability demands investing in mental capital. For Hong Kong to remain globally competitive without normalising burnout or chronic stress, mental health must be treated as core public... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3363716/5-year-plan-must-take-mental-health-seriously-economys-sake https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3363716/5-year-plan-must-take-mental-health-seriously-economys-sake Thu, 13 Aug 2026 03:30:07 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng The Hong Kong government has demanded that a contractor rectify faulty lifts in a new block at Queen Mary Hospital after multiple glitches delayed the launch of all clinical services at the building. A veteran electrical and building services engineer said it was unusual for 24 out of 28 lifts in a new building to malfunction, while a lawmaker said the situation involving Anlev Elex Elevator was “unacceptable”, warning it could further delay completion of the HK$13.5 billion (US$1.72 billion)... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3363768/contractor-ordered-fix-faulty-lifts-causing-queen-mary-hospital-block-delay https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3363768/contractor-ordered-fix-faulty-lifts-causing-queen-mary-hospital-block-delay Wed, 12 Aug 2026 08:49:12 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Death is a natural part of life, but in many communities, a lingering reluctance to discuss this fundamental truth stands in the way of dignified care for terminally ill people. It is good that Hong Kong has enacted a formal legal framework giving patients the power to reject specified life-sustaining treatments when they are terminally ill and mentally incapable of making decisions. The Advance Decision on Life-sustaining Treatment Ordinance officially took effect on July 31 and Hong Kong... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3363264/education-and-communication-can-ensure-end-life-law-benefits-all https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3363264/education-and-communication-can-ensure-end-life-law-benefits-all Fri, 07 Aug 2026 23:15:09 +0000 Veronica Qi Veronica Qi A Burmese python has gone viral on social media after it was spotted along a busy road in a Hong Kong shopping district on Sunday evening, with an expert saying heavy rain over recent weeks may have forced wild animals into urban areas. The snake was caught on camera by a passing jogger near Causeway Bay’s Jardine Noonday Gun at around 11pm that day. In the clip, the reptile, which appears to be about two to three metres long, can be seen slithering across a section of pavement along Victoria... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3362831/whats-burmese-python-doing-causeway-bay-expert-links-reptile-rain https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3362831/whats-burmese-python-doing-causeway-bay-expert-links-reptile-rain Mon, 03 Aug 2026 13:37:23 +0000 Victor Ting Victor Ting In the fourth of a five-part Health Matters wellness series on ageing in Hong Kong, Victor Ting looks at how rising healthcare costs and growing cross-border treatment options are reshaping patients’ choices, as experts warn the city must reform to keep care affordable. Retiree Philip Kong says he realised Hong Kong’s healthcare system needed a wake-up call when he discovered that receiving treatment for his prostate condition in neighbouring Shenzhen could potentially cut his medical bill by... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3362662/how-can-hong-kong-retirees-ease-pain-rising-healthcare-costs https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3362662/how-can-hong-kong-retirees-ease-pain-rising-healthcare-costs Sun, 02 Aug 2026 11:00:08 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung Hong Kong octogenarian Chan Yiu-kuen is ready to let death take its course when the time comes. The 89-year-old said she would sign an advance medical directive to clearly indicate which life-sustaining treatments she would not want if she became terminally ill. “It is OK to depart the world at my old age. Better not to rescue me further, as it could be hard for me,” said Chan, who is mentally capable and has no major illnesses. Chan is among residents signing directives with the help of doctors... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3362579/residents-sign-directives-hong-kongs-new-end-life-law-takes-effect https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3362579/residents-sign-directives-hong-kongs-new-end-life-law-takes-effect Fri, 31 Jul 2026 12:12:33 +0000 Brian Wong Brian Wong A former consultant doctor at a Hong Kong public hospital has been spared jail for prescribing excessive medication to his patients and misappropriating the drugs for personal use. The District Court on Thursday sentenced Lee Chi-leung, an ear, nose and throat specialist, to 160 hours of community service and ordered him to pay HK$20,000 (US$2,550) in compensation to the Hospital Authority over two counts of misconduct in public office. Lee, 51, was found guilty in March of dishonestly acquiring... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3362402/hong-kong-doctor-spared-jail-fraudulently-obtaining-cough-syrup-adhd-drugs https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3362402/hong-kong-doctor-spared-jail-fraudulently-obtaining-cough-syrup-adhd-drugs Thu, 30 Jul 2026 09:44:11 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung A new law allowing patients in Hong Kong to reject life-sustaining treatments when they are terminally ill will take effect on Friday. The South China Morning Post looks into how the law will affect patients and healthcare professionals. 1. What is the new law about? The Advance Decision on Life-sustaining Treatment Ordinance will come into effect on July 31, following its passage by the Legislative Council in November 2024. The law gives patients the power to reject certain life-sustaining... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3362287/how-does-hong-kongs-new-end-life-law-affect-patients-and-medical-staff https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3362287/how-does-hong-kongs-new-end-life-law-affect-patients-and-medical-staff Thu, 30 Jul 2026 02:00:11 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Hong Kong’s Fire Services Department has said paramedics will operate on an “if in doubt, rescue first” principle when determining whether to resuscitate patients in need after a new law on end-of-life directives takes effect next week. Assistant Chief Ambulance Officer Gary Tong Sze-ho of the department said on Friday that rescuers must verify a physical copy of the do-not-attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation (DNACPR) order before withholding specified life-sustaining treatments from the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3361792/paramedics-follow-rescue-first-rule-if-doubt-under-new-end-life-law https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3361792/paramedics-follow-rescue-first-rule-if-doubt-under-new-end-life-law Fri, 24 Jul 2026 12:44:30 +0000 Vivian Au,Elizabeth Cheung Vivian Au,Elizabeth Cheung Hong Kong’s new legislation on end-of-life directives could create significant operational challenges, including verifying patients’ wishes in emergencies and affordability barriers for low-income families, according to frontline responders and patient advocates. The warnings come a week before the Advance Decision on Life-sustaining Treatment Ordinance takes effect next Friday. Under the law, a formal legal framework will empower Hongkongers to specify in advance which life-sustaining... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3361505/hong-kongs-end-life-law-raises-concerns-over-emergency-care-affordability https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3361505/hong-kongs-end-life-law-raises-concerns-over-emergency-care-affordability Thu, 23 Jul 2026 00:30:08 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung Hongkongers will be able to upload orders specifying which life-sustaining treatments they do not wish to receive when terminally ill to the city’s electronic health record platform from next Friday, when the new law comes into effect. The move marks a significant step in formalising end-of-life care arrangements, more than 20 months after the Advance Decision on Life-sustaining Treatment Ordinance was passed by lawmakers. “This legislation is a milestone for Hong Kong’s end-of-life care,” Dr... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3361489/end-life-directives-go-ehealth-new-law-takes-effect-hong-kong https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3361489/end-life-directives-go-ehealth-new-law-takes-effect-hong-kong Wed, 22 Jul 2026 11:02:26 +0000 Fiona Chow Fiona Chow The Coroner’s Court has ruled that a premature baby born at a Hong Kong public hospital died of natural causes, after an inquest revealed that a tube delivering medicine had remained closed for 30 minutes despite repeated checks by staff. The baby girl, Angel Yu Pui-fei, was born in June 2023 at 27 weeks’ gestation at Prince of Wales Hospital in Sha Tin and admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit due to complications arising from her premature birth. The court earlier heard evidence... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3360952/jury-rules-baby-died-natural-causes-despite-nurses-error-medical-tube-check https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3360952/jury-rules-baby-died-natural-causes-despite-nurses-error-medical-tube-check Fri, 17 Jul 2026 09:27:57 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Hong Kong health authorities have made an urgent appeal for a heart transplant for a six-month-old boy in a critical condition, saying the Hospital Authority will also seek assistance from mainland China soon. An authority spokesman said on Tuesday evening that six-month-old Rufus, who suffers from dilated cardiomyopathy and is in the paediatric intensive care unit at Hong Kong Children’s Hospital, urgently needed a heart transplant. “Given the critical condition of the patient, in addition to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3360573/baby-rufus-urgent-need-heart-donation-hong-kong-health-authorities-say https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3360573/baby-rufus-urgent-need-heart-donation-hong-kong-health-authorities-say Tue, 14 Jul 2026 23:00:09 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun The number of disciplinary cases involving intern and resident doctors at Hong Kong’s public hospitals has nearly tripled over four years, the health chief has revealed, as lawmakers called for stronger safeguards to uphold professional standards. Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau told a Legislative Council meeting on Wednesday that the Hospital Authority recorded 35 disciplinary cases involving intern and resident doctors over poor performance or breaches of professional conduct during the past... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3359865/hong-kong-records-surge-disciplinary-cases-among-intern-and-resident-doctors https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3359865/hong-kong-records-surge-disciplinary-cases-among-intern-and-resident-doctors Wed, 08 Jul 2026 10:14:35 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong’s third medical school has recruited about 300 teachers and expects its annual student intake to eventually rise from 50 to more than 200, its dean has revealed. Professor King Li King-chuen, founding dean of medicine at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, also said on Saturday that the medical school had identified a teaching hospital for internships and clinical training, with details expected to be announced within weeks. Li, who assumed the role at the new medical... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/education/article/3359424/hong-kongs-third-medical-school-hires-300-teachers-expects-raise-intake-200 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/education/article/3359424/hong-kongs-third-medical-school-hires-300-teachers-expects-raise-intake-200 Sat, 04 Jul 2026 11:30:26 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft A 16-year-old boy remains in a critical condition with a suspected brain haemorrhage after he was believed to have been knocked from behind by a classmate while climbing through a classroom window at his school, the South China Morning Post has learned. The Education Bureau said on Saturday that it was “deeply concerned” about the incident, which occurred the previous day, and that the school involved would provide support for the boy’s parents and other students. Police said they received a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3359413/boy-16-critical-condition-after-fall-through-school-classroom-window https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3359413/boy-16-critical-condition-after-fall-through-school-classroom-window Sat, 04 Jul 2026 09:33:24 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying The parents of a 13-year-old Hong Kong girl critically in need of a new heart and lungs have appealed to the public in hopes of a “miracle”, with the girl fearing she “won’t be able to go home”. In a letter published on Friday, Ching Ching’s parents called on families who have recently lost loved ones to consider donating the needed organs to their daughter, who suffers from pulmonary hypertension and heart failure. The Hospital Authority first issued an urgent appeal for the girl, who weighs... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3359381/im-so-scared-parents-dying-hong-kong-girl-13-pray-organ-miracle https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3359381/im-so-scared-parents-dying-hong-kong-girl-13-pray-organ-miracle Fri, 03 Jul 2026 16:03:39 +0000 Cannix Yau Cannix Yau Cybersecurity experts have called on authorities to impose fines on firms that suffer data breaches after the personal information of more than 1 million people linked to a leading Hong Kong appliance distributor was maliciously encrypted. They made the comments on Friday, a day after the city’s privacy watchdog announced it had launched an investigation into the breach, which was initially reported by Shun Hing Group on March 23. The Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data said the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3359358/fine-firms-data-breaches-hong-kong-cybersecurity-experts-urge https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3359358/fine-firms-data-breaches-hong-kong-cybersecurity-experts-urge Fri, 03 Jul 2026 11:50:04 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung Expectant mothers in Hong Kong requiring government antenatal services will only need to visit public hospitals, rather than maternal and child health centres, under a change taking effect on Monday. Health authorities announced on Friday that antenatal services currently provided by maternal and child health centres, managed by the Department of Health, would be transferred to public hospitals under the Hospital Authority. “After the service integration, the obstetrics department of the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3359316/hong-kong-moves-antenatal-care-public-hospitals-reform-push https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3359316/hong-kong-moves-antenatal-care-public-hospitals-reform-push Fri, 03 Jul 2026 09:04:45 +0000 Dicky Chow,Curtis Lam,Esther Loh Dicky Chow,Curtis Lam,Esther Loh Nearly a year has passed since Hong Kong launched the first phase of its carer support data platform last July, linking the Social Welfare Department, Hospital Authority and the Housing Authority into a single alert system for “high-risk carers”. These include those receiving a living allowance as low-income carers of the elderly, carers of the disabled and carers of those who live in public housing estates. To date, the platform has flagged over 3,100 cases through hospital alerts. Care teams... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3358389/time-establish-workplace-support-hong-kongs-high-risk-carers https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3358389/time-establish-workplace-support-hong-kongs-high-risk-carers Tue, 30 Jun 2026 01:30:05 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong maintains a world-class public health system in the face of increasing demands on resources, including the supply of doctors. The easing in 2021 of the registration pathway for non-local doctors who have not taken a local licensing exam was a landmark reform, but the prospect of doctor shortages for years to come remains daunting. It is good that the government proposes to further relax licensing rules to attract more younger doctors. The 2021 amendment allows non-local doctors to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3358716/more-younger-non-local-doctors-will-be-hong-kongs-benefit https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3358716/more-younger-non-local-doctors-will-be-hong-kongs-benefit Mon, 29 Jun 2026 23:15:07 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung In the fifth instalment of a six-part Health Matters wellness series on cancer in Hong Kong, Elizabeth Cheung looks at the hidden psychological burden patients face and how support programmes are reshaping treatment. The battle with multiple cancers since the summer of 2024 has taken a mental toll far beyond what Sasa Hui Yuen-sim felt she could manage. The 67-year-old retiree was first diagnosed with breast cancer in June 2024, followed by lung cancer the following year. Between the two... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3358611/i-see-hope-how-mindset-shifts-help-hong-kong-cancer-patients-cope-diagnosis https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3358611/i-see-hope-how-mindset-shifts-help-hong-kong-cancer-patients-cope-diagnosis Sun, 28 Jun 2026 11:00:05 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung As Hong Kong marks the 29th anniversary of its return to Chinese rule on July 1, the South China Morning Post talks to the city’s senior officials about the administration’s achievements so far and what may lie ahead. Allowing all doctors without permanent residency to work in Hong Kong will not threaten the careers of local practitioners, the health minister has said as he defended a proposal to revamp the medical registration regime. In an exclusive interview with the South China Morning Post,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3358388/why-having-more-foreign-trained-doctors-hong-kong-wont-threaten-local-ones https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3358388/why-having-more-foreign-trained-doctors-hong-kong-wont-threaten-local-ones Fri, 26 Jun 2026 04:30:05 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong education authorities have revealed that 91 students were suspected to have died by suicide between 2023 and 2025, with most cases involving secondary school students and boys. The Education Bureau told lawmakers on Wednesday that the number of suspected fatal cases among primary and secondary students was 32 in 2023, 28 in 2024, and 31 in 2025. An advocacy group said youth suicide was rarely caused by a single factor, but identified family issues as a leading underlying cause in Hong... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/education/article/3358221/hong-kong-records-91-suspected-student-suicides-3-years-majority-boys https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/education/article/3358221/hong-kong-records-91-suspected-student-suicides-3-years-majority-boys Wed, 24 Jun 2026 10:11:00 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying A doctor at Tuen Mun Hospital in Hong Kong has been fired for conducting an unauthorised procedure on a patient, in an incident linked to his medical intern girlfriend who was earlier dismissed and arrested for allegedly accessing patient data without permission. The Hospital Authority (HA) said on Monday evening that an investigation found the resident doctor had acted dishonestly and committed serious misconduct, in breach of professional ethics and integrity. The resident doctor was involved... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3357951/hong-kong-doctor-fired-over-misconduct-linked-medical-intern-case https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3357951/hong-kong-doctor-fired-over-misconduct-linked-medical-intern-case Mon, 22 Jun 2026 12:53:14 +0000 Ambrose Li,Kate Chan Ambrose Li,Kate Chan A Hong Kong couple embroiled in custody battles for their two children have said their baby son has been taken to hospital after falling ill and was at one point recommended for meningitis testing. The couple earlier sparked controversy for failing to register the birth of two-month-old baby Danny in the city and were arrested for alleged child neglect. Danny’s father, Tsang Wai-bong, said on Monday that he and his partner Kwan Pui-sin were only allowed to visit the child – currently in a care... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3357874/hong-kong-parents-welfare-custody-case-say-2-month-old-baby-sick-hospital https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3357874/hong-kong-parents-welfare-custody-case-say-2-month-old-baby-sick-hospital Mon, 22 Jun 2026 04:32:25 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Public medical care is the backbone of the health system. Trust and confidence in it are paramount. Respect for patients’ privacy is fundamental. The confidentiality of the doctor-patient relationship is at the core. It must be upheld. It is understandable that the arrest and dismissal of a young intern doctor for misconduct, on suspicion of unauthorised access to patient data, has aroused concern. In a statement that referred to social media posts about the inappropriate acts of an intern... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3357280/social-media-tempts-patient-confidentiality-must-be-upheld https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3357280/social-media-tempts-patient-confidentiality-must-be-upheld Tue, 16 Jun 2026 22:45:04 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma A Hong Kong intern doctor arrested on suspicion of unauthorised access to patient data has been released on bail after about 21 hours in custody and has reportedly been escorted back to her former workplace for evidence collection. A source told the South China Morning Post that the 24-year-old woman, surnamed Lai, was released from Cheung Sha Wan Police Station at around 4.30pm on Saturday. She was arrested at around 7pm on Friday on suspicion of accessing a computer with dishonest intent. A... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3356992/intern-doctor-held-over-unauthorised-access-data-remains-custody-source https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3356992/intern-doctor-held-over-unauthorised-access-data-remains-custody-source Sat, 13 Jun 2026 05:26:21 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun An intern doctor has been arrested by Hong Kong police on suspicion of accessing patient data without authorisation and fired from her hospital, according to an insider and medical authorities. A source said the 24-year-old woman was arrested on Friday evening after allegedly accessing a computer with dishonest intent at Caritas Medical Centre in Sham Shui Po. She was being detained for investigation, the insider added. According to the source, the Hospital Authority had received an anonymous... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3356960/hong-kong-hospital-authority-sacks-intern-doctor-over-series-breaches https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3356960/hong-kong-hospital-authority-sacks-intern-doctor-over-series-breaches Fri, 12 Jun 2026 13:38:06 +0000