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Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun said that the 12-year-old girl who fell to her death in Tai Koo Shing on Wednesday had been assessed by medical professionals as fit to return home from hospital following her mother's death earlier that day. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Sun described the incident as a tragedy, adding that he felt very sad and extended his deepest condolences to the grieving family. The chain of events began on Wednesday morning, when the girl alerted police that her 48-year-old mother had been found lying on the podium deck of a residential block at 5 Tai Koo Shing Road. Officers pronounced the woman dead at the scene. It is understood the pair had argued over her studies earlier that day. Following her mother's death, Sun said the girl was taken to hospital for assessment, before she was sent home with her relatives. "The doctors, nurses and social workers all assessed the situation. At the time, they had to make a judgement. As I understand it, their judgement was that they could be allowed to go home. I can only say this much," he said. Hours after returning home, the daughter was found dead after falling from the same building. "Of course, everyone is very concerned about whether more could have been done. But first of all, I believe the doctors, nurses, and social workers are all professionals. They had to make a judgement," Sun said. "However, as for exactly what happened that day, I would ask everyone to let the relevant authorities, including the police, conduct a thorough investigation. At this moment, I think it is not appropriate to speculate too much." When asked about the father’s situation, Sun urged the public to give the family some space and said authorities would provide full assistance. The minister also revealed that the mother had been a social worker employed by the Social Welfare Department. Director of Social Welfare Edward To said the family was not an active case with the department, but confirmed that comprehensive emotional support would be provided, along with funeral arrangement assistance. Edited by Aaron Tam

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New e-channels to speed up HZMB boundary crossings

Permanent residents entering and leaving the SAR through the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge will soon be able to pass the boundary in about five seconds as the Immigration Department gives its contactless e-channels an upgrade. The Immigration Department on Thursday said it had set up two seamless e-channels at the departure hall to test its new clearance system. The channels use AI technology to facilitate clearances. Five cameras will be installed at varying heights and angles along the new lanes to capture travellers' appearances and make comparisons with the department's database. From June 25, registered users will be able to get through without stopping to complete their immigration formalities, shortening the time for passing the boundary by three seconds, compared with existing e-channels. Gates will automatically close only if any anomalies are detected, and immigration officers will therefore intervene. The department's Assistant Director, Or Chung-yuk, said the HK$6 million system has logged an accuracy of over 99 percent during initial testing. He also said the department would make more promotions to explain how to use the new lanes in order to ease congestion. "We would expect users of this e-channel to just simply walk through the e-channels with a normal walking pace, and maintain a normal distance between those in front and behind them," Or said. "Keeping an arm's length with other users should be okay for the smooth operation of the e-channels," he added. Permanent residents who have used the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge 10 times or more over the past 90 days can register for the service via a mobile app. Or said this is expected to benefit 50,000 people. He also said the department would analyse data collected during the testing period, and look into the possibility of expanding the service to other boundary points. Edited by Tony Sabine

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HKU med school probes intern misconduct allegations

The University of Hong Kong medical school said it is launching a formal investigation into an intern doctor following multiple allegations of professional misconduct, including the unauthorised use of medical equipment and potential breaches of patient confidentiality. In a statement, the school said it was highly concerned over the incidents and said it would follow its established procedures to take appropriate action. “If, upon completion of the investigation, it is found that the intern’s fitness to practice is not up to standard, the most serious outcome — termination of the internship — will be recommended to the Hospital Authority’s Central Internship Committee,” the school said. The school emphasised its “zero-tolerance” policy towards any misconduct, underscoring that it strictly requires students to adhere to professional ethics to safeguard patient rights and public safety. The school said it has also sent an email to all clinical undergraduate students and intern doctors, reminding them of the critical importance of professional conduct and their social responsibility as future healthcare providers. On Wednesday, the Hospital Authority filed a report to the police over suspicions the intern doctor used someone else's login credentials to browse patients records with permission. The trainee doctor also allegedly took an unauthorised X-ray of her own knee and posted it on social media. Edited by Tony Sabine

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Intern doctor reported to police over patient records

The Hospital Authority (HA) has filed a report to police after a trainee doctor was suspected of using someone else's login credentials to browse patient records without permission. In a statement released on Wednesday, the authority confirmed the new allegations are levelled at the same trainee doctor who, just two days earlier, was found to have taken an unauthorised X‑ray of her own knee and posted it on social media, calling it a "perk" of being an intern doctor. In the latest development, the HA said the trainee doctor allegedly used another person's account to log into the clinical management system at Caritas Medical Centre to access patient records from Tuen Mun Hospital. The authority has reported the matter to police and said they will fully cooperate with the investigation. It added that a comprehensive review of the relevant patient records were conducted to ensure patient safety was not compromised. The HA described the situation as extremely serious, saying that it affects the professional image of healthcare workers. A spokesperson said that any behaviour that undermines patient safety and the professional conduct of doctors would not be tolerated. The HA said that it had previously issued a serious warning to the trainee doctor for inappropriate behaviour during her internship at Ruttonjee Hospital, where she was suspected of asking another doctor to perform an examination on a patient. In addition, disciplinary action has already been taken against both the trainee doctor and a resident doctor for misconduct at Caritas Medical Centre. The HA said it would continue to investigate whether the trainee doctor or other doctors are involved in any other misconduct. If any violation of professional standards is confirmed, the authority would refer the case to the Medical Council for follow-up. The HA has also notified the medical school of the relevant university to follow up on the trainee doctor's assessment of being fit for practice. Edited by Aaron Tam

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New five-year plan to inject vitality into HK: CE

Chief Executive John Lee on Wednesday said Hong Kong's upcoming new five-year plan would inject "vitality" into the city's future development. The remarks came as he announced on Tuesday that the city would launch a two-month public consultation on the strategic blueprint from Monday. Speaking at a forum centring on the national 15th Five-Year Plan as well as the SAR's development, Lee noted the SAR government was pressing ahead at full steam to formulate the city's first-ever five-year plan. Hong Kong, he added, would also proactively align with the national 15th Five-Year Plan to better integrate into the country's overall development, noting the country's high-quality growth would offer the "best opportunities" for the SAR. "Hong Kong's own five-year plan will help the city build a more dynamic and competitive development pattern where its advantages and positions will be further enhanced, and the Northern Metropolis would rise rapidly," he told participants. "Meanwhile, the 'AI Plus' and 'Finance Plus' strategies would together drive the city to contribute more on building the Belt and Road Initiative and the Greater Bay Area, and play a greater role in the country's opening up. "Hong Kong will benefit greatly from all these and its citizens will share the development dividends and move towards a better life," he added. Separately, Lee noted the city's economy had shown "strong" growth momentum in the first quarter of year, with gross domestic product rising 5.9 percent year on year. He added that the high-level delegation he led to visit Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan last week had yielded "fruitful results", and that the SAR would continue to play its role as a "super connector" and "super value-adder" to attract global funds and talent. The chief executive called on all patriots to seize on the "historical opportunities" during the country's 15th Five-Year Plan period, and contribute to the city's own five-year blueprint. The event was jointly organised by the Friends of Hong Kong Association and the China Overseas Friendship Association, and it was also held to mark the 29th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong SAR. Edited by Tony Sabine

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Nixie Lam welcomes civil servant pay rise proposal

Lawmaker and deputy chairman of Legco’s panel on public service, Nixie Lam, on Tuesday welcomed the proposed two percent pay rise for the city’s 170,000 civil servants, describing the approach as cautious and balanced. She said the proposed pay hike strikes a balance between sustainability in public finances and civil service performance and fits the overall social climate. She pointed out that a volatile geopolitical landscape and external risk factors could directly impact Hong Kong’s economy and society, adding the SAR government needs to invest heavily in the coming years in various development projects and improving livelihoods. Therefore, she said, public finances must adhere to the principles of exercising fiscal prudence, keeping expenditure within the limits of revenue to consolidate the city’s financial foundation and reserve strength for long-term development. However, the proposed two percent pay rise came as a surprise to Roy Ying, co-chair of the advocacy and policy research committee at the Hong Kong Institute of Human Resource Management. The human resources expert said his group expected a 3.5 percent pay rise based on their earlier survey of major employers. “I believe it will be seen as disappointing to certain civil servants, but I believe for the junior roles, the impact is not that high,” he said. "Because most of their jobs have not been maxed out in terms of their annual increments, so the net increase that they get is probably not that much lower than the private sector.” Ying added that non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and statutory bodies, which tend to follow government pay adjustments, may see their senior staff headhunted by private sector firms. “The groups that I think are more vulnerable are the NGOs and the statutory bodies, because they tend to follow the government pay adjustments, yet they do not have the same annual increments,” he said. “For those who are in more senior roles, they may see that their salaries are becoming less and less attractive, especially compared with the private sector. And you never know when a headhunter calls, that's when they will probably want to start looking elsewhere." Edited by Tony Sabine

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National security law move 'helps reduce court rows'

Chief Executive John Lee said on Tuesday that a proposed piece of subsidiary legislation to clearly define the classification mechanism for “other offences endangering national security under the law of the HKSAR” will make the relevant laws clearer for the administration of justice. Under the proposal to be enacted under Section 110 of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, if the chief executive issues a certificate under the law confirming that a criminal act involves national security, the case shall be treated as one. And where a person is charged with – or convicted of – an alternative offence arising from the same act in a case involving a national security offence, that alternative offence shall also be classified as an offence endangering national security. Speaking ahead of the weekly Executive Council meeting, Lee said the move “will have the benefit of reducing the risk of controversies or debates in court about what constitutes an offence endangering national security”. It does not expand the definition of offences or add new offences, powers or punishments, and has no impact on the scope of application of the law, he said. As head of the SAR government, Lee said he had the responsibility to ensure that national security is safeguarded. “The application of the power in issuing a certificate is a very serious action which will be exercised by me with prudence and seriousness,” he said. "We have to understand that a lot of endangering national security activities are committed by state players of another place. “They are professional, sophisticated, and the seriousness of information that may be available to indicate the seriousness of the matters are privy to the chief executive. "A lot of this information is sensitive and not suitable for public disclosure.” Lee went on to say that while he shoulders the responsibility for the issuance of such certificates, everyone should help safeguard national security.

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Committee formed to drive AI boost: FS

Financial Secretary Paul Chan on Sunday said a committee dedicated to artificial intelligence development in Hong Kong would hold its first meeting this month. Writing in his weekly blog, Chan said the Committee on AI+ and Industry Development Strategy consists of experts, academics and business representatives. It will study the use of AI in life and health science, embodied AI as well as AI application strategies in various aspects such as transport, culture and sustainable development, he said. Chan also said the government had allocated HK$50 million to launch AI training for all, including courses on AI application, lectures and competitions. He said over 200 events were expected to be hosted in two years, benefiting some 50,000 people. Chan went on to say that the form of AI training would be diversified to meet the needs of different groups. “For example, training for students can place more emphasis on encouraging practical application,” he said. “To help the elderly gain a basic understanding of AI so that they can better use the tool and avoid being scammed, we will first offer training for the community and students and let them become ambassadors for seniors’ AI learning.” The FS also said a mainland firm working on embodied AI would launch a robot retail store at the Hung Hom harbourfront soon, with a robot store manager serving customers in multiple languages around the clock. “A person-in-charge told us they chose Hong Kong as the first stop for their retail stores to go global because of the city’s international platform, open atmosphere for new technologies and visibility of innovation and technology projects,” Chan said. “International capital continues to pay attention to and be optimistic about our country’s leading advantages in several emerging industries. The Hong Kong market, as an important international financing centre for these companies, also enhances the city’s attractiveness to start-ups and technology companies.” Chan added that the SAR has been promoting AI development at full speed over the past few years. Edited by Tony Sabine

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CE wraps up 'fruitful' Central Asia visit

Chief Executive John Lee on Friday expressed confidence that Hong Kong and Uzbekistan will further advance their "win-win cooperation" as he concluded his week-long Central Asia trip. Speaking on the final day of his visit to the Uzbek capital, Tashkent, Lee described his trip to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan as fruitful, noting achievements have been secured in eight areas. These include the establishment of high-level contacts and ties between the SAR government and the governments of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, with the respective sides reaching consensus on cooperation across multiple areas, he said. Lee added that a total of 96 cooperation agreements and memoranda of understanding, involving investments exceeding US$1.65 billion, had been reached during his visit. Before returning to Hong Kong on Friday night, Lee attended a business exchange event and met again with the Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, Abdulla Aripov. Lee said he looked forward to strengthening co-operation between the two places and laying a solid foundation in areas that include capital markets connectivity, infrastructure financing and green finance. The CE thanked the government of Uzbekistan for making arrangements for his visit, saying he was confident that the two places would open up a new chapter of mutual benefits and win-win cooperation. Earlier in the day, Lee attended a luncheon hosted by the Chinese Ambassador to Uzbekistan, Yu Jun. There, he expressed gratitude to the Chinese Embassy for its continued support and for making arrangements for the visit. Lee also visited the Center for Islamic Civilization – the country’s largest cultural, scientific, and educational complex – to learn about local efforts in cultural preservation, academic research and education promotion. During the visit, he noted that Hong Kong and Uzbekistan could further strengthen cooperation in arts and culture, people-to-people exchanges and museum collaboration. Edited by Edmond Fong

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CE hails Central Asia trip a major success

Chief Executive John Lee on Thursday declared his trip to Central Asia a major success, revealing that a total of 96 memoranda of understanding and partnership agreements worth an estimated US$1.65 billion have been made. Summing up the tour from the Uzbek capital of Tashkent, Lee said 15 pacts were signed directly on a government-to-government level with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, covering business, education and development projects. Lee also announced that Uzbekistan has agreed to establish a consulate-general in Hong Kong. He added that details for a relaxed travel arrangement – where Hong Kong and Uzbekistan could each allow the other's passport holders to enter visa-free for up to 30 days – will be announced soon. “Both governments are working very hard to implement this visa-free 30-day arrangement. We have overcome the most difficult part, that is both sides work on the details and yesterday we exchanged the notes verbally on this matter,” he said. “With the enthusiastic attitude of both governments, I think we can see very early implementation of the arrangement. I will push my colleagues to work harder, and I received the same assurance by my counterparts in the government of Uzbekistan.” The Chief Executive said that the SAR and Uzbekistan governments also signed an aviation agreement, adding that some SAR airlines are already planning to launch direct flights to Uzbekistan. He noted that the two sides have also initiated talks to establish an avoidance of double taxation agreement to lower fiscal barriers for cross-border businesses. When asked about plans for the next trip, Lee said officials will summarise the experience from the current visit and assess locations that would bring long-term benefits to the SAR's economic and trade development. For his part, Frederick Ma, chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), noted that many small doors of business opportunity have opened up in the past few days. One example, he said, was that at least one state-owned Kazakh enterprise has explicitly expressed interest in pursuing a public listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Since arriving in the Uzbek capital on Wednesday, Lee has met with several senior Uzbek officials, including President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov. The Chief Executive will attend a business dinner hosted by the SAR government and HKTDC on Thursday night to promote the SAR’s business opportunities to local commercial representatives. On Friday, Lee and his delegation will visit IT Park Uzbekistan – the country's primary technology and innovation hub – before setting off on his return journey to Hong Kong. Edited by Aaron Tam

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Noisy, flashing toys can harm your child: watchdog

Toys that can damage a child's hearing or induce epileptic fits have been found on sale in Hong Kong with some products lacking the necessary warnings for parents, the Consumer Council said on Thursday. The watchdog said it tested 30 battery-powered products with sound or light features, including toy phones, keyboards, walkie-talkies and trains, priced at between HK$28 and HK$399. Eight of the items failed battery safety checks, with the batteries left exposed after drop or pull tests. Of the 22 toys with light features, three did not have the required labels to warn of a potential risk they could trigger photosensitive epilepsy. One toy also played music louder than the 80-decibel limit set out in safety standards, with the council warning that prolonged exposure to excessive noise can harm a child's hearing at a time when their auditory system is still developing. "We urge relevant manufacturers and suppliers to check the results of this test and improve the product design and labelling to improve the safety of toys and strengthen the protection of children," the watchdog said. "The Consumer Council reminds parents and caregivers to pay close attention to product labels and safe usage when purchasing and using battery-operated toys with sound or light features, in order to reduce potential risks to children." It added that parents should check the recommended ages for individual products, make sure children don't hold noisy toys too close to their ears, and not to let children stare at lights coming from toys for too long. Edited by Thomas McAlinden

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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HK firms will welcome direct Almaty flights: lawmaker

Lawmaker Jonathan Lamport said on Thursday that he believes the planned resumption of direct flights between Hong Kong and Kazakhstan will greatly benefit SAR businesses hoping to tap into the emerging markets of Central Asia. Cathay Pacific earlier announced it will launch direct flights between Hong Kong and Almaty, Kazakhstan's largest city, from the first quarter of next year. In an interview with RTHK, Lamport said quicker journeys between the two places will make all the difference to businesses. "For business people, usually when we travel for business, it's not like for holidays and so we won't take a very long time; especially for people in Hong Kong, they like to take three-day, two-night trips, or even a day trip," he said. Lamport also called on SAR authorities to task an economic and trade office (ETO) with helping facilitate business with Central Asia. "An ETO can help build local connections. But I think currently as we also have an ETO in Dubai, maybe they can set up a subsidiary group there to help handle the issues in Central Asia," he said. Edited by Thomas McAlinden

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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Unregistered infant moved to shelter under court order

A one-and-a-half-month-old baby boy, who does not possess a birth certificate and was reportedly delivered via homebirth, has been temporarily moved to a sheltering facility following a court order. The Social Welfare Department on Wednesday said the baby is under professional care, adding that it has applied for a child protection order from the court following the arrest of a couple said to be his parents. Police, meanwhile said they have obtained the DNA sample of the boy, as well as samples from the couple, for verification. Officers said the test results are not out yet. The couple was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of child neglect after failing to provide proof that they had taken the infant for medical checks. They previously refused DNA testing to prove their relationship with the baby and failed to register a birth within 42 days set out in the law. Following the couple’s arrest, the baby underwent checks at the hospital and medical workers found no apparent injuries on him. Senior social work officer Stephanie Lee said the department will submit a report to the court to decide the next steps after meeting with the couple. “We will collect the information and then make the assessment and then also involve all other concerned parties. The time [taken for the report submission] will be subject to the progress of this assessment or the information gathered,” she said. When asked if the department will hand the baby back to the couple if it is found they are his biological parents, she stressed that the department will prioritise the baby's well-being. She added that if the couple is proven unfit to care for the child, the department may seek a guardianship order. The couple said they have another child that was placed in foster care in Sweden a number of years ago. The Immigration Department said it has reached out to the Swedish authorities to seek more information, including her identity there and foster care arrangements. The department added that it will take follow-up actions based on their response. Edited by Aaron Tam

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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Child neglect case 'mind-boggling': lawmaker

A lawmaker on Wednesday called a controversial child neglect case "mind-boggling", saying he couldn't understand how the parents would leave their newborn without a birth certificate or any medical records. The parents were arrested on Tuesday after the case went viral online as they refused DNA testing to prove their relationship with the baby following a home birth. Speaking on an RTHK programme, Peter Koon, who chairs Legco's social welfare panel, says the baby's safety is what matters most – and a court could issue a protection order if the parents are found unfit to care for him. "Following the issuance of a child protection order, the baby could be sent to a facility that specialises in caring for newborns," he said. "As for who becomes the guardian, that really depends on the court's order. But theoretically, temporary guardianship could be granted to the Director of Social Welfare." Speaking on the same programme, Patrick Ip, a paediatrics professor at the University of Hong Kong, said he's worried about the baby's health. "This case makes me uneasy. The parents had two other children — neither went smoothly. One of them died young. Was there a problem with the way they cared for them?" he questioned. "For this newborn without a birth certificate, there's no way to get proper vaccinations or health monitoring. This is very far from ideal." The Social Welfare Department said it is seeking a protection order for the infant from the court, adding it will come up with a plan that puts the baby's health and interests first. Edited by Tony Sabine

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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HK can be key renewable energy hub: Kazakh expert

Researchers in Kazakhstan say Hong Kong's sound financial system, infrastructure and regulatory regime make it an ideal partner and fund-raising hub for green energy projects. Chief Executive John Lee will conclude his duty visit to Kazakhstan on Wednesday night, before continuing his Central Asian tour in Uzbekistan. The visit by the SAR delegation comes as Kazakhstan accelerates its decarbonisation drive, having committed to the Paris climate change treaty and a 2060 carbon neutrality target. "Our government is putting more effort on that. We have a lot of projects going on," said Nurxat Nuraje, head of the renewable energy lab at National Laboratory Astana. With petroleum reserves expected to be depleted within 50 years, he said the Kazakh government is "paying more attention to develop new technology like renewable energy technology". Nuraje, who attended the International Hydrogen Development Symposium in Wan Chai last month, believed there is plenty of room for cooperation. "We learned that Hong Kong has become a very important hub for the development of hydrogen and renewable energy," he said. "Hong Kong has a very good transportation system, also a capital investment system." Fellow researcher Yerbolat Magazov went further, suggesting Hong Kong look into developing a trading mechanism for green hydrogen. "The actual role of Hong Kong as a hub would be to make it not as an energy material, but as a valuable asset," he said. "Special frameworks, taxonomy, legislation — so hydrogen can be traded as a stock material." Their laboratory in the Kazakh capital has already demonstrated the potential of clean energy, after building a system last year that converts solar energy into hydrogen. Mainland company Zhejiang H2-Bank Technology was a key partner, supplying critical components such as electrolysers and hydrogen storage systems. But Magazov acknowledged they need to drive down costs before green hydrogen can really take off. It remains three to five times more expensive than "grey" hydrogen, which is derived from fossil fuels. "The biggest problem is bankability," he said. "Lots of people have lots of money, but they need to be sure that in the future, green hydrogen will be profitable. Right now, if you calculate, it's a non-profitable thing." This, according to Magazov, is where the Hong Kong brand comes into play. "If Hong Kong trusts this country, everyone can also trust. That allows future investors to put money and investments into this particular market," he said. With global energy markets remaining volatile, Magazov felt that Central Asia and China should forge closer ties. "It's better to make allies which are close to each other," he said. "China, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan and other Central Asian countries should bring together. In the future, if something happens, we'll be independent of others." Edited by Raymond Yeung

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Yacht tourism boom on horizon as sailing curbs eased

A new policy aimed at allowing yachts from Hong Kong and Macao to enter or exit nine mainland cities in the Greater Bay Area will be a massive catalyst for growth in yacht tourism, said David Norton, vice commodore of Hong Kong Royal Yacht Club, on Tuesday. His remark came after the SAR on Saturday welcomed the State Council's approval of exemption from the requirement of a guarantee and implementation of temporary ship nationality registration, enabling yachts from both SARs to access the nine mainland cities. Speaking on RTHK's Backchat programme, Norton said there used to be great financial and administrative hurdles in the past in trying to get boats across the border in the mainland or Hong Kong for yacht races and sailing events. "It's very difficult for them to bring their boats into China and for our members to get their boats to attend events in the Chinese mainland, so this [new policy] is a massive boost, and the opportunities for cruising around the beautiful Guangdong coast is also a very interesting prospect," he said. It will also bring greater convenience and more opportunities for yachters to explore the region, Norton added. He also said the industry was looking forward to more details of the scheme being made available and the city becoming a focal point for people who wish to enter Chinese mainland waters. Speaking on the same programme, Dennis Kwok from the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education said the policy will have spillover effects for other industries as well. "Not only will the owners travel, they might have their guests, their business partners, and also the maintenance crew, everything that will provide a lot of economic benefits to the tourism industry in Hong Kong," said the head of the department of hospitality at the institute's campuses in Chai Wan and Haking Wong. Although yachts travelling to Hong Kong might not be great in number, Kwok said, they have a major impact on tourism branding and make the city more unique. He also said a recent proposal for an operational merger for China Ferry Terminal and the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal was timely as passenger throughput at these two checkpoints had dropped by 6.5 percent last year. He suggested that one of the ferry terminals be used as additional location to serve yacht tourists. Edited by Thomas McAlinden

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Robots take dispensing load at community health centre

The Hospital Authority has said its smart warehouse management system which uses automated robots has successfully streamlined the handling of medicine, freeing up pharmacists to focus on patient care. The system was implemented in late 2024 at the North District Community Health Centre, where robots carry designated drug shelves to workstations at the centre's warehouse to replenish drugs. This means pharmacists no longer need to search for and transport drugs. The authority's chief pharmacist William Chui pointed out that the time required for retrieving medicine has decreased from 20 minutes to only a few minutes. "If the pharmacists engage in the storage of the drugs, or other [logistical] or technical operations, they would spend less time on patients directly, so that's why we introduced this smart warehouse management system," Chui said. "It can provide more time for pharmacists, healthcare professionals or dispensers to take care of our patients. "The second benefit of introducing this new smart system is to ensure or enhance the medication system, and also for increasing the storage space by 20 percent," he added. Betty Leung, the pharmacy department manager at the North District Hospital – which also uses some of the medicine from the North District Community Health Centre – explained that the system has eliminated the need to reserve space for trolleys used for carrying medicine, increasing storage capacity. She also pointed out that there is a backup plan if the system fails. "We can call for a 24-hour support, and worse comes to worst, we can revert to our old mechanism of having staff going into the drug store to get the drugs." She added that the system also monitors the medicine inventory in real time, which would ensure no drugs would be used past their expiry date. Leung also said there are plans to expand the use of the smart warehouse management system. "In [health facilities that will be redeveloped], or new hospitals, new clinics, we can deploy this warehouse system to enhance the service." Edited by Aaron Tam

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CUHK Medical Centre loan repayment deal 'a triple win'

The opening up of beds at a private hospital run by the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) for use by public healthcare system patients is a triple win, Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau said on Friday. The move is part of a repayment deal for a loan made by the government for the development of the CUHK Medical Centre in Sha Tin. It will see the centre allocate 120,000 inpatient bed days over a 15-year period till 2037 to repay interest on the HK$4.033 billion building loan, with the principal set to be repaid in full in March next year. Lo, in a Legislative Council health panel meeting, called the deal a triple win as it allows Hospital Authority patients to receive faster treatment as well as enjoy services at the private hospital at public healthcare rates and reduces the financial burden on the university, which is planning to help the centre repay the loan. He told lawmakers the authorities have agreed in principle to allow the centre to repay the loan in full by March, ahead of the 2028 deadline that had been agreed after the centre twice sought repayment extensions. The interest due under the loan is a different matter. Under the original agreement, the HK$4.033 billion loan was interest-free for the first five years starting from March 2017, with the government starting to charge interest at a floating rate since 2022. "Even though CUHK Medical Centre will be repaying the loan [principal] in full, it will not be repaying the interest due during this five-year period [between 2022 and 2027]. It will not repay the interest early," Lo said. "For interest due in the five years between 2022 and 2027, they will [repay] by allocating about 120,000 in-patient bed days [for use by public hospitals]." Lawmaker Chan Pui-leung asked what the government would do if CUHK Medical Centre fails to meet its obligation to allow access to more than 120,000 bed days as that would result in changes having to be made to the 15-year interest repayment plan in 2037. Lo said the centre could make repayments if its financial situation improves but that would depend on the plan it comes up with at the time. University council chairman John Chai told lawmakers that the institution plans to offer a loan to the centre and/or provide a guarantee that allows it to secure bank loans. While the council has yet to make the final decision on the issue, he assured lawmakers that it will not take money away from funds that have been designated for other specific purposes. “Between 2024 and 2025, CUHK recorded solid investment returns, its funds have particularly recorded more desirable growth," Chai said. "Therefore, CUHK is considering using part of those funds that have no designated purpose yet to provide a loan to CUHK Medical Centre." Lo said the university, CUHK Medical Centre and the Hospital Authority would sign a memorandum of understanding to further step up cooperation so as to highlight the centre's role as a non-profit teaching hospital in the city's healthcare system, as well as its role as a bridge connecting both the public and private healthcare sectors. The move will also showcase the centre's commitment to promote sustainable development of healthcare services that offers the public more choices. Edited by Thomas McAlinden

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N Metropolis 'cries out for top-notch civic icon'

The quality of a government complex proposed to be built in Kwu Tung North should be high, as befits an investment in Hong Kong's civic pride and its being a flagship for the Northern Metropolis, said a member of the Sub-Committee on Planning and Land Conservation on Friday. Barry Wilson's remarks came after a HK$9.9 billion development plan was proposed for a 35-storey office block that would see the middle and upper floors primarily used for government offices and the ground and lower levels housing community facilities such as a district library, a post office and a kindergarten. Speaking on an RTHK radio programme, he said the building was important as it would be the "civic icon" for the Northern Metropolis. Wilson said the building should prioritise quality and functionality as it will become the centre of "a 15-minute walkable transit-oriented design community" and stressed a need on the part of the government to balance costs with community needs. "This is a building we hope will be around in a hundred years that society will be proud of, that society will have used endlessly and will have proven good value for money," he said. Addressing concerns over the the proposed costs of the project, Wilson believed that the investment will be worth it in the long term. "If we're going to attract talent, if we're going to attract business, if we're going to attract tourists, if we're going to create civic pride and create cohesive communities, I think it wouldn't be outrageous to spend a bit more," he said. He noted that the suggested building plan of 380 parking spaces could be reduced in a walkable neighbourhood environment, saying that might be an area where cost savings could be made. Edited by Thomas McAlinden

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HK industries ride on Central Asia trip to forge ties

Two industrial trade bodies that will be travelling to Central Asia as part of a delegation led by Chief Executive John Lee say they see similarities between the region's rapid development and China's opening up four decades ago. Anthony Lam, chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong Industries (FHKI), described Central Asia as a developing frontier booming with opportunities. He said Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, the two largest economies in the region, are both paring down their reliance on natural resources and turning to digital industries, light manufacturing and green technology. "Hong Kong is poised to supply them with these opportunities and technology," Lam said. "They consider themselves developing [countries]. As what we did when China just opened 40 years ago, Hong Kong participated a lot and benefited a lot from the opening of the Chinese economy." Lam identified several areas where Hong Kong's expertise could prove useful in Central Asia. These include medical-related investments and supplies which could serve the region's population of over 80 million people. On the other hand, Lam was keen to explore collaboration with Uzbekistan's fur and leather industry. "They eat a lot of meat, so they've got a lot of leather. Leather then relates to furniture and the shoe industry," he explained, suggesting potential supply chain extensions from Central Asia to Hong Kong. Wingco Lo, president of the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong (CMA), was optimistic about meeting the trip's objectives, one of which is to identify business opportunities in innovation, technology, manufacturing, green development and trade. But he also struck a pragmatic tone, pointing to various challenges awaiting Hong Kong businesses. "Their languages — they use Russian and local dialects. We have to adapt to cultural differences, especially those that are Islamic countries," he said. Financial infrastructure presents another obstacle. "The financial infrastructure may not be that mature," Lo said. "Different financial services and exchange currency rates may be very fluctuating." Logistics, too, remain a work in progress. "The logistics infrastructure is now building up. We hope after they build this up, it will be better for us to set up manufacturing there," he said. On the other hand, Lo pointed to demographic advantages, including low labour costs and a young population. "They have enough manpower with young generations, which will help our manufacturers to settle there." Both Lo and Lam view Lee's upcoming visit to Central Asia as a critical step in establishing sustained ties with the region. "Hong Kong is being a super connector — to the outside, to China, and also to Central Asia. This is a great opportunity for Hong Kong companies to participate in the development and growth of Central Asian countries," Lam said. Edited by Raymond Yeung

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