Tag Archives: China

     Following is a question by the Hon Lothair Lam and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (November 4):

Question:

     According to figures from the Census and Statistics Department, the laden container movement between Hong Kong and the Mainland accounts for more than 40 per cent of the annual laden container throughput of Hong Kong ports. As international terminals in Guangzhou and Shenzhen continue to develop, the Mainland is providing many incentives to encourage river trade vessels (RTVs) carrying goods to the terminals, including financial subsidies and exemption from compulsory pilotage requirements for RTVs of Chinese nationality carrying general cargoes. In Hong Kong, it is learnt that the only incentive currently provided to alleviate the operating burden of vessels frequently plying between Guangdong and Hong Kong is the buy-five-get-five-free discount on the Multiple Entry Permit. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the number of RTVs that have transported containers to Hong Kong container terminals in the past three years up to September this year, their tonnage and the number of containers carried, as well as the respective year-on-year changes in these figures;

(2) of the specific facilitation measures currently provided by Hong Kong for RTVs, and whether the Government has planned or studied the introduction of additional support measures to boost the motivation and carrying capacity of RTVs for cargo transport; as the Government has clearly set out in the Action Plan on Maritime and Port Development Strategy that it will review port dues or permit fees imposed on ocean going vessels and inland river vessels, of the findings and details of the review;

(3) given that in general, except for exempted ships, Hong Kong imposes compulsory pilotage requirements on all types of ships of 3 000 tonnage or over, and on ships of 1 000 tonnage or over carrying certain dangerous goods entering Hong Kong waters, of the number, tonnage and type of ships subject to compulsory pilotage in the past three years;

(4) as there are views that the promotion of green shipping in Hong Kong needs to cover vessels entering local waters, and that RTVs, which have to berth at ports in the Pearl River Delta, are all registered in the Mainland, whether the Government will discuss with the relevant Mainland authorities how to promote the green transformation of RTVs, and whether it will explore co-operation with the Mainland to accelerate the pace of RTVs’ green transformation; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(5) of the utilisation rate of the Tuen Mun River Trade Terminal (TMRTT), which is facing a change of use due to low utilisation and has been incorporated into the Government’s Smart and Green Industrial Port (SGIP), in the past three years, apart from berthing services, whether any other value-added processes such as vessel assembly have been carried out within TMRTT, and whether a portion of SGIP will be retained for continued use by RTVs or for conducting value-added processes, and so on?

Reply:

President,

     Hong Kong is a world‑leading international shipping centre, home to one of the most efficient and busiest ports globally. In the 2026 Xinhua-Baltic: International Shipping Centre Development Index Report, Hong Kong ranks fourth worldwide, standing at the forefront in overall strength across port conditions, professional shipping services, and the overall business environment.

     To further consolidate and enhance Hong Kong’s status as an international shipping centre, following the promulgation of the Action Plan on Maritime and Port Development Strategy in December 2023, the Transport and Logistics Bureau is fully advancing the measures announced in the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026–2030) (Hong Kong’s Five-Year Plan) and the 2026 Policy Address. These include promoting the development of a green and smart port; collaborating with port operators to formulate a clear roadmap for the smart and green transformation of Kwai Tsing Container Terminals (KTCT); deepening participation in the establishment of the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) port cluster; and fostering efficient collaboration among ports in the region. We will actively implement these measures following three directions – smart transition, green transformation, and digitalisation to consolidate the leading position of the Hong Kong port.

     In consultation with the Environment and Ecology Bureau and the Development Bureau (DEVB), the reply to the question raised by the Member is as follows:

(1) Statistics on river cargo vessels visiting Hong Kong (whose main berthing location is KTCT) and their container throughput are listed as follows: 
     

Year	Vessel Arrivals	Changes compared with the same period last year (%)	Net tonnage (in thousand tonnes)	Changes compared with the same period last year (%)
2023	4 344	-35.5%	7 521	-32.0%
2024	3 644	-16.1%	7 289	-3.1%
2025	3 519	-3.4%	8 360	14.7%
2026 (January to July)	2 101	-0.1%	5 599	12.0%

   

Year	Container throughput (in thousand TEU)	Changes compared with the same period last year (%)
2023	1 627	-17.1
2024	1 651	1.4
2025	1 517	-8.1
2026 (January to July)#	878	-0.7

Note: # The numbers for July are provisional.
Source: Census and Statistics Department.

(2) To encourage more river trade vessels (RTVs) to use Hong Kong ports and promote inland river transshipment operations, the Marine Department (MD) introduced the multiple entry permit (MEP) incentive in 2007. This allows users to pay a fee equivalent to five single entry permits and make up to ten port entries within a month, effectively halving the cost. 

     In the past three years, the average monthly port entries by river cargo vessels and the annual usage of the MEP were as follows:   
     

Year	Average monthly number of river cargo vessel arrivals	Number of river cargo vessel MEPs issued throughout the year
2023	3 622 times	743 pieces*
2024	3 668 times	5 650 pieces
2025	3 521 times	5 865 pieces

*Note: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government waived the Permit to Remain (PTR) fee for RTVs. The exemption period was from November 1, 2019, to October 31, 2023. As RTVs did not have to pay the PTR fee during the exemption period, there was no need for them to apply for MEPs as well.

     The Action Plan on Maritime and Port Development Strategy proposes various measures to strengthen Hong Kong’s position as a regional transshipment hub and an international shipping centre, including reviewing the permit fees charged to RTVs in order to maintain the competitiveness and attractiveness of the port to the industry. We have completed a preliminary review and are now discussing the matter with relevant departments, with the details to be released in due course.

(3) Under the Pilotage Ordinance (Cap. 84) and its subsidiary legislation, except for locally licensed vessels, all visiting vessels with a gross tonnage of 3 000 tonnes or above, vessels carrying dangerous goods with a gross tonnage of 1 000 tonnes or above, and gas carriers of any tonnage are required to be under the pilotage of licensed pilots within the waters of Hong Kong, to ensure marine safety. The related pilotage arrangements are similar to those at other ports worldwide.

     According to the records from the MD, a total of 130,404 visiting vessels required pilotage services in the past three years (2023–2025), the majority of which were ocean-going vessels (OGVs) with a gross tonnage of 10 000 to 50 000 tonnes. Among these, over 110 000 visits were made by container ships.

(4) We notice that the industry is actively promoting the green transformation of RTVs, and the first zero‑carbon river trade route in the GBA was put into operation in mid-October, using the largest river trade container smart electric vessel in South China. In response to the latest development trends in river trade industry, the Government has also proposed participating in the national scenario incubation project for the development of a smart and green logistics model using “water-to-water transshipment” in Hong Kong’s Five-Year Plan, and creating a favourable operating environment for autonomous vessels in Hong Kong and throughout the GBA, thereby promoting smart transition of shipping in the GBA. The Government is currently working closely with the industry to study how to advance this development, so as to accelerate the smart and green transformation of RTVs, and hence revitalise the RTV network between other ports in the GBA and Hong Kong.

(5) The river trade terminal (RTT) is a privately owned terminal specifically designed for river trade. Its main function is to reorganise and consolidate cargoes from ports in the Pearl River Delta and then transport them by truck or barge to other port facilities (for example, shipping them to KTCT and then onward by OGVs to destinations worldwide); as well as to load cargoes onto ships for transport to other ports within the Pearl River Delta, including Shenzhen and Guangzhou.

     Located at the western end of the New Territories, Lung Kwu Tan/Tuen Mun West (LKT/TMW) has extensive sea frontage and is in proximity to the Northern Metropolis, Hong Kong International Airport and the Pearl River Delta region, with excellent transport connectivity through land transport and marine access. In August 2025, the DEVB launched a public engagement exercise on the preliminary land use proposal of providing about 300 hectares of new developable land in LKT/TMW through near-shore reclamation and modification of existing land, with the positioning of Smart and Green Industrial Port for the proposed development of four core industries, including modern logistics/river trade terminal (RTT).

     Considering the utilisation of the berths in RTT in recent years, the above land use proposal includes retaining about 35 hectares out of the existing 65 hectares of the RTT site for modern logistics/RTT use. This will enable relevant vessels and users to continue using the river trade facilities, and cater for any potential increase in demand in the future. At the same time, planning flexibility will be provided to allow the 35-hectare site for other high value-added modern logistics uses, including logistics operations adopting digital and smart technologies, thereby facilitating the upgrading and transformation of the shipping and logistics industries.

     Taking into account the views received during the public engagement exercise, DEVB is refining the land use proposals for LKT/TMW, and will maintain communication with relevant stakeholders. Upon completion of the detailed engineering design and technical assessments, rezoning and other statutory procedures for the Smart and Green Industrial Port project will be taken forward accordingly. read more

     Following is a question by the Hon Shiu Ka-fai and a reply by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, in the Legislative Council today (November 4):

Question:

     The Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan proposes to deepen the integrated development of culture, sports, and tourism, and explore more routes for city walks. It is learnt that various sectors of society generally recognise that exploring local characteristics, promoting arts and cultural activities and community in-depth tourism can help divert travellers to different communities across Hong Kong, thereby reducing the pressure on core areas while boosting the district economy as well as retail, catering and other consumption activities in the vicinity. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether it has assessed the effectiveness of “tourism is everywhere in Hong Kong” since its implementation, including whether it can attract travellers to the 18 districts of Hong Kong for tourism; if such an assessment has been conducted, of the details (including visitor flows and local consumption in each district);

(2) whether it has considered setting up additional pedestrian precincts in different suitable districts in the territory and permitting street performances in a planned and orderly manner, including reinstating the pedestrian precinct at Sai Yeung Choi Street South, so as to present various forms of performing arts to travellers through the “Culture + Tourism” approach; and

(3) apart from the existing promotional activities, whether there are plans to strengthen cooperation with relevant trades and businesses to further leverage the unique characteristics of various districts and explore routes for city walks, such as promoting the Temple Street night market, Dried Seafood Street, Ginseng and Bird’s Nest Street and Herbal Medicine Street in Sheung Wan, Tai Yuen Street (Toy Street) in Wan Chai, Mong Kok Flower Market, Ladies’ Market and Fa Yuen Street, as well as Yau Ma Tei Wholesale Fruit Market; if so, of the details?

Reply:

     Thank you, President.

     The Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) have been working with the trade to actively develop tourism products and experiences with Hong Kong characteristics. We have also seized the opportunities of various mega events and festivals to partner with district merchants in launching offers to attract visitors to spend in the surrounding areas. When promoting tourism projects and district signature activities, we also have to consider the carrying capacity of the relevant districts and attractions, so as to strike a balance among tourism revenue, the actual situation of the districts, and the needs of residents. 

     In response to the question raised by Hon Shiu Ka-fai, having consulted the Transport and Logistics Bureau, the Security Bureau, the Environmental Protection Department, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, and the Home Affairs Department, a consolidated reply is as follows:

(1) In recent years, the tourism projects, mega events, and festivals planned by the Government have spanned over districts of Hong Kong, successfully encouraging visitors and local residents to visit and spend in various districts. Amongst others, the HKTB has actively promoted tourism routes and projects with local characteristics, such as the “Yau Ma Tei Police Station: A Cinematic Journey”, the “Kowloon Walled City: A Cinematic Journey”, and the “Hong Kong Neighbourhoods” programme covering Old Town Central, Sham Shui Po, and West Kowloon. In addition, we also promote various traditional festivals and district activities to visitors such as the Cheung Chau Bun Festival, the Tai O Dragon Boat Water Parade, and the Lam Tsuen Wishing Tree in Tai Po. 

     Large-scale mega events and festivals drive spending in the surrounding areas. For example, the HKTB held its annual flagship event, the Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival at the Central Harbourfront last week, attracting over 171 000 visits, up more than 5 per cent year-on-year, while sales rose by approximately 8 per cent, and bringing business to nearby bars and restaurants. Some in the food and beverage industry stated that during the Mid-Autumn Festival, both the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance and the International Lantern Spectacular organised by the HKTB drove business at nearby restaurants up by more than 20 per cent. The upcoming Hong Kong WinterFest, the Hong Kong New Year Countdown Celebrations, and the International Chinese New Year Night Parade are expected to continue benefiting district merchants.

     In addition, as of September 2026, the Kai Tak Sports Park had held 190 sessions of international and local sports, cultural and entertainment events, with the Kai Tak Stadium attracting a cumulative total of more than 2.8 million spectators. Spectators attending major events can make use of the precinct’s well-developed transport infrastructure (including more than 10 special bus routes) to travel to different districts across Hong Kong, which diverts mega-event visitors to other communities. Merchants in the precinct and the nearby Kowloon City District have also actively launched ticket stub offers to attract spectators to spend in the district before and after events. Taking the Hong Kong Football Festival 2026 as an example, more than 40 merchants participated in the ticket stub offer programme. During the matches, the Kai Tak Mall recorded nearly 120 000 visits in a single day. A sporting goods store reported an approximately fivefold increase in turnover, while a food and beverage merchant also said its business rose by more than 50 per cent.

(2) As for the proposal to establish pedestrian precincts, the relevant policy bureau advised that, given that pedestrian precincts may affect various local stakeholders and merchants in nearby road networks, the Government must consider the matter carefully. In fact, the Government has been actively promoting the development of arts and culture, encouraging the public to participate in different forms of arts and cultural activities to realise their potential. However, some people have indeed caused nuisance in public places when conducting street performances in the past in terms of noise, environmental hygiene, street management, and public order, etc. Experience also shows that past performances in pedestrian zones generated a large number of complaints. Relevant policy bureaux and departments have handled complaints and concerns in accordance with their respective authorities and the related legislation, so as to reduce the impact of performance activities on residents’ daily lives and their use of public space. We therefore hold a very cautious stance regarding the proposal to re-establish pedestrian zones.

(3) The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region also actively encourages the trade to develop tourism routes with local characteristics. In collaborating with the trade and merchants to promote the characteristics of various districts, the HKTB launched the “Taste Hong Kong” Gourmet Guide in January this year, inviting local master chefs to recommend restaurants in the 18 districts and attract visitors to explore local tastes in different districts. The HKTB will also continue to develop and promote more travel itineraries with local characteristics under different themes in collaboration with district merchants. For example, the HKTB launched a new promotional series “Hong Kong Good Take” last month, featuring 50 iconic films and 100 local filming locations, including restaurants and shopping attractions, and partnered with the trade to launch movie-themed guided experiences. In Yau Ma Tei, for example, visitors can first visit the “Yau Ma Tei Police Station: A Cinematic Journey” to relive scenes from classic police-and-crime films, then walk to the Yau Ma Tei Fruit Market and the wet market, enjoying local snacks at the Temple Street Night Market.

     Thank you, President. read more

     Following is a question by the Hon Yang Wing-kit and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, in the Legislative Council today (November 4):
     
Question:

     Kai Tak Hospital (KTH) commenced its first phase of services in October 2026. However, some members of the public have relayed that the frequencies of public transport to the hospital are relatively low, with some routes offering only one-way special departures, and a lack of direct routes to Kowloon Central areas such as Lok Fu and Hung Hom. This has resulted in some patients being unable to attend their appointments at the hospital on time due to transport problems. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
(1) whether the Transport Department has discussed with franchised bus and green minibus operators increasing the frequencies of existing routes to and from KTH, introducing return journeys for one-way routes such as KMB 11A and 17A or converting them to two-way services, and introducing more direct bus and minibus routes between KTH and Kowloon Central areas (such as Lok Fu, Hung Hom); if so, of the details (including new routes, frequencies and the implementation timetable); if not, the reasons for that;

(2) whether KTH will provide flexible appointment arrangements for outpatients who are late for their appointments due to public transport delays, so that they do not need to reschedule their appointments; if so, of the details of the relevant guidelines and arrangements; if not, the reasons for that; and

(3) given that during the phased transfer of the services of Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) to KTH, the Hospital Authority will provide a special “one-off outpatient” arrangement for patients who mistakenly attend QEH for appointments, under which they will be seen by ward-based specialists at QEH or receive telemedicine consultations from doctors at KTH, (i) of the respective numbers of patients who have made use of the special arrangement and those who have been treated by ward-based specialists at QEH to date; and (ii) when the special arrangement is expected to be terminated?

Reply:

President,

     In consultation with the Transport and Logistics Bureau and the Hospital Authority (HA), the reply to the question raised by the Hon Yang Wing-kit is as follows:

     With a total gross floor area of 500 000 square metres, Kai Tak Hospital (KTH) will provide 2 400 beds upon full commissioning, making it the largest public hospital in Hong Kong and the flagship hospital of the Kowloon Central Cluster (KCC). Serving a population of 1.8 million covering Yau Tsim Mong, Kowloon City, Wong Tai Sin and Kwun Tong districts, KTH assumes the role of public healthcare hub in Kowloon. KTH will leverage its strengths to enhance collaboration with other hospitals within the KCC, while supporting other Kowloon clusters to further enhance the quality of public healthcare services in Kowloon.

     KTH has commenced services progressively in phases starting from October 5, 2026. Departments providing services at present include:
 

1. The Family Medicine Integrated Centre, the Department of Pharmacy and the Patient Resource Centre, commenced services on October 5, 2026, providing a series of family medicine out-patient primary healthcare services. During the initial stage of the hospital’s opening, around 250 family medicine clinic (FMC) quotas were provided per day. Patients suffering from episodic diseases can schedule an appointment for the next 24 hours via the “Book FMC” function on HA Go, the HA’s one-stop mobile application, or through the telephone booking system;
2. Allied health services, including the Departments of Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Dietetics, Podiatry, as well as Prosthetic and Orthotic, which have progressively commenced since October 6, 2026;
3. Specialist out-patient services of the Departments of Surgery, Neurosurgery and Clinical Oncology, as well as specimen collection services of the Department of Pathology, which have commenced since October 26, 2026; and
4. Treatment and examination services of the Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, including X-ray, ultrasound scan, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography (CT) scan and positron emission tomography-CT scan, which have commenced in batches since October 26, 2026.

     In addition, the HA will arrange the transfer of patients from Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) to KTH for the following services in a progressive manner:
     

1. Specialist out-patient services of the Departments of Medicine and Family Medicine will commence in mid-November 2026;
2. Day services of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology will commence in late November 2026; and
3. The remaining specialist out-patient services, including the Departments of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paediatrics, as well as major clinical services, such as all in-patient, surgical and Accident and Emergency services, are expected to be transferred to KTH in 2028 when the Acute Block is completed.

(1) Regarding public transport arrangements in respect of KTH, the Transport Department (TD) has maintained close liaison with the HA, relevant government departments, District Councils and local stakeholders. Having regard to various factors including the distribution of patients’ districts of residence, the TD has assessed the overall public transport demand of KTH to undertake advance planning.

     During the initial stage from October 5 to October 26, only around 250 FMC quotas were provided per day. Currently, multiple MTR stations (including Kai Tak, Kowloon Bay, Ngau Tau Kok, Kwun Tong, Yau Tong, Sung Wong Toi, To Kwa Wan and Wong Tai Sin), as well as major areas in Kowloon (such as Mong Kok, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon Tong, Tsz Wan Shan, Mei Foo and Sau Mau Ping), are served by a total of 16 franchised bus (FB) and green minibus (GMB) routes providing direct services to KTH. More than 40 FB and GMB routes serving the Kowloon Bay Business Area adjacent to KTH have en-route stops along Kai Fuk Road or near the Zero Carbon Park. Members of the public can reach KTH within a few minutes on foot via the covered footbridge near GREEN@KWUN TONG. Among these routes, Citybus route 22S connecting MTR Kai Tak Station and Sung Wong Toi Station to KTH is relatively popular. In addition, in response to local stakeholders’ feedback, the TD and the FB operators have introduced special departures of the KMB routes 11A and 17A during major consultation hours to facilitate residents of the Chuk Yuen and Ho Man Tin areas to travel to KTH.
     
     Based on current observations, patients’ arrival times at the hospital are relatively concentrated. The existing one-way frequencies of the two routes, i.e. KMB routes 11A and 17A, since their introduction on October 5, 2026 have been broadly able to meet the passenger demand at the present stage. In addition, as the departure times and destinations of patients leaving the hospital may be relatively dispersed, passengers of KMB routes 11A and 17A may make use of connecting services to MTR stations (e.g. CTB routes 22S and 22M to Kai Tak Station and Sung Wong Toi Station, GMB route 86 to Kowloon Bay Station and GMB route 88A to Wong Tai Sin Station) for their return journeys to their destinations.
     
     Residents of Kowloon Central may choose appropriate direct or interchange routes to KTH according to their place of residence. Taking Hung Hom as an example, passengers in the area of Valley Road and Wuhu Street may take Citybus route 20X or KMB route X6C for direct services to KTH; while passengers in the Hung Hom Bay and Hok Yuen areas may take KMB route 297 to the Zero Carbon Park in Kowloon Bay, and then walk to KTH via the aforementioned covered footbridge. As for passengers in the Lok Fu area, they may consider taking the MTR to Kai Tak Station and interchanging with Citybus route 22S to KTH. Mobility impaired persons may take the Rehabus service between Lok Fu Station and KTH.
     
     The TD and the HA will continue to maintain close communication and closely monitor the overall development progress of the KTH project. As various services at KTH are progressively rolled out with an increasing out-patient service capacity, on-site surveys will be conducted to closely monitor changes in passenger demand on major transport routes and adjust the service schedules. The TD will also work with FB and GMB operators to enhance connecting public transport services to MTR stations in light of actual passenger travel patterns and demand.
     
(2) For out-patients who arrive at the hospital slightly later than the scheduled appointment time, the HA will adopt a flexible approach by rearranging their consultation within the same day as far as possible to ensure that they are able to receive appropriate treatment without the need for rescheduling.

(3) As a transitional arrangement, the HA staff will call all patients who need to be transferred from QEH to KTH for follow-up consultations to ensure that they are informed of the latest consultation arrangements. Meanwhile, the HA will also send reminders to relevant patients by mail or via SMS messages.

     To further remind KTH patients, the HA has introduced a new measure since late October. The HA will send a booking reminder message via HA Go three weeks and on the day before their follow-up consultations, reminding the patients of their consultations at KTH. 
     
     During the transitional period, QEH will make special one-off arrangements to provide services for patients who have a booking with KTH but have gone to QEH by mistake at QEH, and they need not travel back to KTH for consultation. During the period from October 5 to November 2, 2026, a total of six patients who had bookings with KTH mistakenly went to QEH. The HA arranged all these patients to receive services at QEH. The hospital will continue to closely monitor the actual situation and review the transitional arrangements. 
     
     For patients who have a booking with QEH but have gone to KTH by mistake, the KCC will make one-off arrangements. Based on the actual circumstances, patients will be arranged to receive services at KTH or QEH as scheduled.
     
     The HA will continue to brief relevant stakeholders and the general public on the detailed arrangements for the commissioning of KTH through various channels in a proactive manner. In the past year (from November 2025 to October 2026), the KCC organised a total of 69 community outreach activities including visits, community talks, workshops, information sessions and promotional booths, in collaboration with community partners such as the Home Affairs Department, District Council members, District Services and Community Care Teams, ethnic minority groups and advocacy groups for rehabilitation services. The HA has also added information regarding service transfer arrangements of KTH to HA Go and KTH’s webpage. read more

     Following is a question by the Hon Ginny Man and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, in the Legislative Council today (November 4):
     
Question:

     Type 1 diabetes is mostly related to genetic factors and autoimmune system conditions. Patients need to monitor their blood glucose levels on a long-term basis in order to inject appropriate doses of insulin; otherwise, they would incur risks such as hypoglycaemia and ketoacidosis. This disease can have a serious impact on the growth of children and adolescents. It is learnt that some of the continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) currently available on the market can continuously measure the blood glucose level for two weeks, effectively improving patients’ lives, but CGMs need to be replaced regularly, placing a financial burden on patient families. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
(1) whether it has compiled statistics on the current number of children under 18 with Type 1 diabetes across the territory, and of the number of such new cases in each of the past three years;

(2) whether it has estimated the amount involved each year if the Hospital Authority fully subsidises the use of CGMs for children under 18 with Type 1 diabetes across the territory; and

(3) given that the causes and treatment methods for Type 1 diabetes differ from those for Type 2 diabetes, whether consideration will be given to formulating targeted support policies and measures for each of the two diseases, so as to provide patients with more appropriate assistance?

Reply:

President,

     In response to the question raised by the Hon Ginny Man, after consulting the Department of Health (DH) and the Hospital Authority (HA), the consolidated reply is as follows:

     Diabetes is one of the common chronic diseases in Hong Kong. According to the Population Health Survey 2020-22, 8.5 per cent of non-institutionalised persons aged 15 to 84 had diabetes or raised blood glucose. Diabetes is mainly classified into Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 diabetes is caused by the dysfunction of insulin-producing cells, which may be related to hereditary factors, autoimmune disorders or some environmental factors. Generally speaking, diabetes diagnosed in children or adolescents is mostly Type 1. Type 2 diabetes is caused by the body’s resistance to insulin. Apart from hereditary factors, the main factors are related to unhealthy lifestyle (including poor lifestyle habits, unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity or obesity).

(1) The DH and the HA do not maintain territory-wide statistics on the number of children under the age of 18 with Type 1 diabetes and the number of new cases each year. From 2021 to 2025, the number of diabetic patients under the age of 18 who had used HA services each year was about 700 to 800, including patients with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

(2) Diabetic patients need to monitor their blood glucose levels regularly. Traditional monitoring methods include blood tests and checking of blood glucose levels by blood glucose meters. Continuous glucose monitoring system (CGM) serves as a special monitoring tool for particular diabetic patients with clinical needs. 

     Relevant Specialist Out-patient services of the HA will consider the clinical conditions and medical needs of patients, and provide an appropriate quantity of CGM free of charge to suitable patients depends on the situation, mainly for patients who need frequent monitoring of blood glucose levels to adjust their treatment plans, such as those requiring multiple daily insulin injections with unstable blood glucose levels, prone to severe hypoglycaemia or suffering from hypoglycaemia unawareness, including adult and paediatric patients with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Based on current price estimates, the annual cost of continuous use of CGM for a Type 1 diabetic child under the age of 18 is about $15,600.

     However, not all diabetic patients have the clinical needs for CGM. Therefore, the HA will continuously review the coverage of relevant services and technology development, and review clinical service guidelines, including the use of different suitable testing methods to monitor the blood glucose levels of diabetic patients according to their clinical conditions and actual needs, so as to ensure the provision of appropriate treatment to all diabetic patients.

(3) At present, the HA provides diversified services according to the individual clinical needs of patients to support various types of diabetic patients, including Family Medicine Out-patient services and Specialist Out-patient Diabetes Centre services. Family Medicine Out-patient services provide care for patients with relatively stable conditions, and conduct health risk assessments and follow-up care services for patients through multi-disciplinary healthcare teams. During consultations, doctors will also provide appropriate advice and treatment according to the clinical conditions of patients (including arranging blood tests for patients and prescribing medications). Diabetes Centres deliver comprehensive consultation and treatment services for patients with more complex conditions, mainly managed by a team of endocrinologists and specialised diabetes nurses, providing patients with services such as diabetes assessment, consultation, treatment, self-management education and metabolic risk assessment, so as to enable early detection of complications and appropriate management. Doctors will arrange different tests and treatment plans based on the individual circumstances of patients.  

     The HA has been committed to enhancing the knowledge of children with diabetes and their families about the disease and providing them with health education. The Hong Kong Children’s Hospital has published the Diabetes Care in Schools, providing guidelines on supporting schoolchildren with diabetes, identifying relevant symptoms of abnormal blood glucose and taking appropriate response measures. 

     The Government also encourages members of the public to adopt healthy lifestyles through a life-course approach, and to reduce the risk of developing diabetes and related complications through “early prevention, early identification and early treatment”. Members of the public should maintain a healthy weight, eat a balanced diet and limit the intake of sugar and saturated fat, avoid alcohol or smoking, as well as engage in at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week. The Government will continue to enhance the health literacy of the public through health promotion activities, and work with various government departments and community partners to build a healthy living environment. read more

     Following is a question by the Hon Jonathan Stuart Lamport and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, in the Legislative Council today (November 4):

Question:

     It is reported that a survey has shown that Hong Kong’s overall happiness index for this year has dropped slightly compared with last year, with Generation Y (Gen Y) (generally referring to persons born in the 1980s and 1990s) being the least happy group, and the Gen Y respondents generally indicated that they felt lost in life and were worried about the current economic and social situation. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) given that the aforesaid survey has reportedly pointed out that over 40 per cent of the surveyed members of the public self-rated as having moderate to severe depressive symptoms, whether the authorities have plans to, under the existing mechanism, conduct a dedicated survey targeting the Gen Y group who are in the career-building stage while simultaneously facing economic and life pressures, so as to accurately grasp their psychological pain points and assistance needs;

(2) in response to the anxiety of Gen Y in the workplace and in life, whether the authorities will explore with the business sector the rollout of pragmatic collaborative measures, such as providing targeted subsidies or tax incentives to the business sector, to encourage and support enterprises in promoting mental health-friendly workplaces, thereby maintaining the stability and quality of Hong Kong’s labour force; and

(3) in respect of Gen Y’s anxiety about the current economic and social situation, whether the authorities will formulate a more comprehensive cross-departmental long-term strategy to fully support the employment as well as physical and mental health development of Gen Y through a multi-pronged approach covering the employment development, emotional support, family-friendly measures and community networks of the group?

Reply:

President,

     Supporting young people in managing their financial, employment and living conditions, thereby reducing anxiety and improving mental health, is a complex and multifaceted issue. Taking forward such supportive works in the community requires a shared commitment and collaborative efforts across different sectors.

     In consultation with the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB), the Labour and Welfare Bureau (LWB) and the Department of Health (DH), a reply to the various parts of the question raised by the Hon Jonathan Stuart Lamport is as follows:

(1) and (3) Relevant government bureaux and departments, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and community partners have consistently worked together, adopting a multi-pronged approach to provide comprehensive support for Generation Y’s employment as well as physical and mental well-being across areas such as employment, emotional support, family-friendly policies and community networks, whilst taking into account various policy considerations. Examples include the following:

     The Government is committed to promoting the diversified development of young people and organising different activities for them to realise their potentials, with a view to fostering a healthy environment conducive to their growth. The HYAB published in 2022 the first edition of the Youth Development Blueprint (Blueprint) which outlines the principles, objectives and actions of the Government in pursuing youth development. The HYAB has organised and subsidised different types of youth development activities, covering internship and exchange, entrepreneurship, life planning, Youth Ambassadors Programme, youth engagement, adventure activities, youth uniformed groups and volunteer services, etc, for young people to better equip themselves, develop their strengths and enhance their competitiveness.

     In line with the direction of the Blueprint, to foster positive thinking among young people and enhance their physical and mental well-being, team spirit, and resilience, the HYAB and Youth Development Commission jointly launched the HYAB Funding Scheme for Youth Positive Thinking Activities under the Youth Development Fund to subsidise eligible NGOs to organise projects that are conducive to nurturing positive thinking amongst young people, thereby promoting awareness of their physical and mental well-being, nurturing positive thinking among them, cultivating their positive values, and enabling them to become a new generation possessing a sense of responsibility and having an aspiration and willingness to contribute to the development of our country and of Hong Kong.

     With regard to employment development, the Labour Department (LD) has all along adopted a multi-pronged approach and formulated appropriate measures to provide wide-ranging training and employment support for young people. The LD operates job centres across the territory to provide comprehensive employment services for job seekers of different ages and backgrounds. Job seekers can meet with employment officers at the job centres to receive personalised employment advisory services. Based on job seekers’ needs and preferences, employment officers recommend suitable employment programmes or training/retraining courses to them, so as to enhance their employability and expand their employment opportunities.

     On mental health support, the Government’s strategy is to identify and intervene in potential cases at an early stage through cross-sectoral collaboration, thereby minimising the likelihood of them developing into more complex social, family, and health issues. Any cases where mental health problems require medical intervention, are already serious; treatment or rehabilitation is more difficult, and the social and personal costs are higher.

     In terms of emotional support and community networks, the “18111 – Mental Health Support Hotline” (Hotline) was launched in December 2023. Operating 24 hours a day, the Hotline provides one-stop emotional and mental health support to individuals from all backgrounds and of all ages who are experiencing mental distress due to various reasons (such as interpersonal relationship, stress coping and adjustment issues) and provides appropriate service information or referrals based on the callers’ individual needs. As of September this year, the Hotline has handled over 350 000 calls.

     To enhance public participation in and understanding of mental health with a view to encouraging members of the public to seek help and intervention at an early stage, the Advisory Committee on Mental Health and the DH launched the “Shall We Talk” mental health promotion and public education programme. Since July 2020, “Shall We Talk” has launched a one-stop dedicated website (shallwetalk.hk), various media pages and social media platforms which provide mental health information and resources to the general public on topics such as mental well-being, common mental health problems, seeking help, community support, activities and health education materials. “Shall We Talk” also provides mental health related resources to schools and workplace.

     The Social Welfare Department (SWD) has set up 25 Integrated Community Centres for Mental Wellness (ICCMWs) across the territory to provide one-stop, district-based community mental health support services ranging from early prevention to crisis management for persons in mental recovery, persons with mental health needs, their families and carers, and local residents. Services include case counselling, group activities, public education, and exhibitions.

     Since 2019, the SWD has provided resources to NGOs to operate five mobile vans to promote mental health in all districts across Hong Kong through mobile exhibitions, mini-talks, activities and on-site screenings or assessments, with a view to achieving the objectives of early prevention, early identification and early intervention.

     At the community and family level, through diversified promotional activities, the Government is committed to encouraging employers to implement family-friendly employment practices to help employees balance work and family needs. The HYAB has all along been supporting the work of the Family Council (Council) to promote to the general public a culture of loving families. The HYAB and the Council launched the five-year Funding Scheme on the Promotion of Family Education (Scheme) in October 2024. With an annual provision of $8 million, the Scheme subsidises non-profit-making community projects in promoting family education to meet the needs of different families. The Scheme covers various family-related themes, such as education for new parents, parent-child education, maintaining family relationships, inheritance of good family values and traditional virtues, assisting parents to guide their children and adolescents towards positive, proactive, and self-reliant values from an early age, thus supporting Generation Y to meet their caregiving needs in the family. On the other hand, the Council has been encouraging the wider adoption of more diversified and flexible family-friendly employment practices (FFEPs) in the community. Since 2023-24, the Council has launched promotional videos titled “Family-friendly Workplace” introducing various FFEPs adopted by local companies with sharing by employers and employees. The FFEPs presented in the videos include work-from-home arrangements, flexible work hours, parental leave, and family leave. The Council has also collaborated with the Radio Television Hong Kong to produce radio programmes to promulgate different FFEPs. 

(2) The DH, the LD and the Occupational Safety and Health Council (OSHC) have collaborated to implement the Mental Health Workplace Charter (Charter). Through a series of activities and practical support measures, the Charter actively encourages employers to adopt measures in the workplace to promote mental well-being, and to encourage active listening and communication, thereby fostering a mental health-friendly working environment. To leverage cross-departmental and cross-sectoral synergies, starting from the 2024/25 school year, schools that have signed the Education Bureau’s 4Rs Mental Health Charter will concurrently sign the Charter, to cultivate a mentally health-friendly workplace for the staff. In 2026-27, the annual promotional theme is “Communication in the Workplace”. The Government will step up the promotion of the Charter to attract broader participation from organisations and optimise employee training content, such as incorporating a more diverse range of mental health-related courses. As at the end of September this year, over 3 400 organisations have signed the Charter. The DH, the LD, and the OSHC will continue to collaborate to enhance both online and offline publicity, actively promoting the Charter across various industries through diversified channels to further raise public awareness and industry engagement.

     The SWD launched the Pilot Programme on Training for Mental Health Promotion Ambassador (Programme) in October this year, with the aim of recruiting 5 000 ambassadors of diverse ages and backgrounds, including members of Generation Y. The ICCMWs liaise with social welfare units and district organisations in the community – including commercial organisations, secondary schools, tertiary institutions and religious groups – to implement the Programme collaboratively. The trained ambassadors can leverage their personal networks to disseminate positive mental health knowledge through family, workplace and community networks; foster a culture of mutual care and support among neighbours; strive to reduce the stigma associated with mental health from the public; and enhance mental health-friendly workplaces and communities. We encourage wider participation in the Programme to call for a concerted effort in promoting healthy lifestyles, fostering resilience and building a caring and supportive community network. read more