The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The 73rd issue of "HA Risk Alert" was published today (April 26) by the Hospital Authority (HA) as a risk management and communication initiative to further strengthen the reporting and monitoring of clinical incidents in public hospitals.

     In the fourth quarter of 2023 (October to December), 11 sentinel events were reported, comprising seven cases of retained instruments/material, two cases of wrong patient/part, one case of inpatient suicide and one case in other category. In addition, there are 19 reported serious untoward events related to medication errors.

     "Subsequent to the incident review and analysis of the root causes of these incidents, important lessons for patient safety have been identified, while recommendations are made and shared in this publication to avoid similar events in the future," an HA spokesperson said.

     The HA Head Office has released the latest "HA Risk Alert" to all staff. It can also be accessed by the public at www.ha.org.hk/riskalert. "HA Risk Alert" is published on a quarterly basis and posted on the HA website on the last working Friday in the months of January, April, July and October. The next issue is scheduled for July 26, 2024 (Friday).

     The Government and the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) announced today (April 26) details of the extension of the Grant Scheme for Open-ended Fund Companies and Real Estate Investment Trusts.
 
     To further attract the set-up of open-ended fund companies (OFCs) and real estate investment trusts (REITs) in Hong Kong, the Government launched the Grant Scheme in 2021 to provide funding support for OFCs set up in or re-domiciled to Hong Kong and REITs listed in Hong Kong to pay for eligible expenses charged by Hong Kong-based professional service providers.
 
     Implemented by the SFC, the Grant Scheme has generally been well received by the industry since its inception. The 2024-25 Budget has announced the extension of the Grant Scheme for three years to 2027 to strengthen the development of OFCs and REITs in Hong Kong.
 
     A spokesman for the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau said, "The Government is committed to strengthening Hong Kong's competitive edge as a premier fund hub. Since the introduction of the Grant Scheme, the number of OFCs registered in Hong Kong has increased substantially from 14 in May 2021 to 302 in March 2024. The Grant Scheme has effectively promoted the development of Hong Kong's diversified fund industry. In respect of REITs, the Budget has announced waiving the stamp duty payable on the transfer of REIT units. On April 19, the China Securities Regulatory Commission announced the inclusion of REITs under Stock Connect. The extended Grant Scheme, complementing relevant measures, will further bolster the development of our REIT market."
 
     The extended Grant Scheme will be open for applications from May 10, 2024. Eligible OFCs and REITs will be provided with funding support for 70 per cent of eligible expenses paid to Hong Kong-based service providers, subject to a cap of $1 million for each publicly offered OFC, $500,000 for each privately offered OFC, and $8 million for each REIT. Details are available on the SFC website (apps.sfc.hk/edistributionWeb/gateway/EN/news-and-announcements/news/doc?refNo=24PR78).
 

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     To enhance the income protection for retirees, HKMC Annuity Limited (HKMCA), a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation Limited, announced today (April 26) the launch of enhancement measures and a promotional offer for the HKMC Annuity Plan (Plan). Details are as follows:
 

1. "Lifelong Monthly Income Booster" (Note 1): For the first HK$300,000 premium of new applications per customer, customers can enjoy a 25 per cent increase in monthly annuity payouts for life, upon successful application for the Plan during the promotion period between April 29 and December 31, 2024.
2. Special Withdrawal Arrangement Enhancement (Note 2): With effect from April 29, 2024, customers may withdraw up to 100 per cent of the remaining balance of the premium paid (Note 3) to cover their medical-related expenses without any withdrawal charges. The maximum lifetime withdrawal limit for each customer is HK$1 million. This enhancement measure is applicable to all existing and new policies. 
3. Premium discount offer (Note 4): Eligible customers (Note 5) can enjoy up to 2 per cent premium discount, upon successful application for the Plan during the promotion period between April 29 and December 31, 2024.

 
     Executive Director of the HKMCA, Mr Raymond Li, said, "With continued product enhancements, the Plan has helped over 15 000 customers turn about HK$15 billion of their savings into guaranteed, stable and lifelong annuity income since its launch. We believe that the product enhancements and promotional offer introduced will offer greater protection and flexibility to customers, allowing them to enjoy retirement with greater peace of mind."

     From today onwards, interested parties can visit the HKMCA website (www.hkmca.hk) to arrange sales appointment. For enquiries, please call the customer service hotline at 2512 5000. 

Note 1: "Lifelong Monthly Income Booster" is subject to terms and conditions.
Note 2: Terms and conditions applied. Please refer to the product brochure for details.
Note 3: The remaining balance of the premium paid refers to the amount of the remaining premium after deducting the total annuity payments received by the insured.
Note 4: This premium discount offer is subject to terms and conditions, and may not be applied in conjunction with other promotional offers or premium discounts offered by the HKMCA.
Note 5: Eligible customers include Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes members or Occupational Retirement Schemes members, as well as AMIGOS By HKMC members. 

     The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, met with a delegation led by the Director General of the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission, Professor Wen Daxiang, to exchange views on reinforcing healthcare collaboration between Shanghai and Hong Kong today (April 26).  
      
     At the meeting, the two parties engaged in in-depth discussions over the four highlighted areas of co-operation put forward in the Memorandum of Understanding on Healthcare Cooperation between the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission and the Health Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region signed this morning at the 6th Plenary Session of the Hong Kong/Shanghai Co-operation Conference. The four areas of co-operation cover traditional Chinese medicine (CM), high-quality development of public hospitals, community health as well as prevention and control of infectious diseases and health emergency responses.

     Professor Lo said, "For the very first time, the Chief Executive adopted cross-boundary medical collaboration as one of the subtitles in the 2023 Policy Address, demonstrating how deep the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government values medical collaboration with the Mainland on various fronts. The Hong Kong SAR Government has indeed been strengthening co-operation on healthcare service developments and enhancing healthcare quality in the two places with various Mainland counterparts under the principles of complementarity and mutual benefits and on the premise of benefitting the healthcare development of the Mainland and Hong Kong. Looking ahead, the two places will continue to strive to foster cross-boundary healthcare collaboration and draw concerted efforts to push forward the important national strategy of 'Healthy China'.

     "With the support of the Hong Kong SAR Government, the Hospital Authority (HA) is actively following up with the relevant healthcare authorities of Shanghai on the two-way talent exchange and deepening of professional co-operation arrangements for public hospitals of both places, aiming to realise the two-way exchange of suitable doctors in phases within this year. In respect of CM, I am particularly grateful to the relevant authorities of Shanghai for recommending CM experts to advise us on the planning of Hong Kong's first Chinese Medicine Hospital. We will continue to encourage more Hong Kong CM practitioners to participate in clinical training exchanges in Shanghai with a view to elevating the professional standard of the sector."

     The Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam; the Controller of Regulatory Affairs of the Department of Health (DH), Dr Amy Chiu; the Chief Executive of the HA, Dr Tony Ko; the Director of Cluster Services of the HA, Dr Simon Tang, and representatives from the Health Bureau and the DH also attended the meeting today.

    

The following is issued on behalf of the Major Sports Events Committee:
 
      The FIE Foil World Cup – Hong Kong, China will be staged in Hong Kong for the first time from May 1 to 4 at the AsiaWorld-Expo. The Major Sports Events Committee (MSEC) has awarded "M" Mark status to this tournament.
 
      The Chairman of the MSEC, Mr Wilfred Ng, said today (April 26) that like all other "M" Mark events, this event will not only promote sports development and showcase Hong Kong's capability to host world-class sports events, but also add colour and vibrancy to Hong Kong, bring in more visitors from abroad and enhance Hong Kong's position as a centre for major international sports events.
 
      "Hong Kong's successful bid to become the host city of the World Cup marks a significant milestone for the development of fencing in Hong Kong. This event attracts top fencers from around the world to compete in Hong Kong, providing an excellent opportunity for the Hong Kong, China team to compete with world-class fencers on their home ground and gain valuable international competition experience. Futhermore, such an event helps strengthen exchanges and co-operation between Hong Kong and other countries and regions, thereby enhancing the overall standard of fencing in Hong Kong," Mr Ng said.
         
           The "M" Mark System aims to encourage and help local "national sports associations" and private and non-government organisations to organise more major international sports events and nurture them into sustainable undertakings. Sports events meeting the assessment criteria will be granted "M" Mark status by the MSEC. Funding support will also be provided to some events.
 
      For details of "M" Mark events, please visit www.mevents.org.hk.