Secretary for Health commences visit to Switzerland to introduce health and medical innovation initiatives in Hong Kong

Health secretary launches groundbreaking medical initiatives in switzerland for hong kong

The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, departed from Geneva for Basel yesterday (May 29, Basel time) to begin visit in Switzerland.

In Basel, Professor Lo led a delegation to visit multinational pharmaceutical and healthcare companies Novartis and Roche respectively, and met with their senior management to learn about the pharmaceutical groups' latest developments in research and development (R&D) of drugs, as well as reimagining medicine by using innovative science and technology. The delegation also visited Novartis Pavillon which illustrates the past, present, and future of medicine, healthcare and sciences in a digital and interactive manner to promote popularisation of science and technology.

At the meetings, Professor Lo highlighted the initiatives put forward by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government in developing Hong Kong into a health and medical innovation hub, including strengthening the regulatory and approval regimes of drugs and medical devices, as well as promoting the development of clinical trial industry.

Professor Lo said, "The Chief Executive announced in the 2023 Policy Address that the HKSAR Government will enhance the prevailing evaluation, approval and registration mechanism for drugs as well as establish an internationally recognised regulatory authority for drugs and medical devices with the long-term objective of setting up an authority which registers drugs and medical devices under the 'primary evaluation' approach. All these aim at accelerating the clinical use of new drugs and medical devices, and spurring the development of industries relating to the R&D and clinical trial of drugs and medical devices."

"Following the announcement of the Policy Address, the HKSAR Government has been making proactive moves on all fronts and has scored certain achievements in just six months, including the formal acceptance by the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use as its observer and the implementation of the new drug approval mechanism, known as the '1+' mechanism, respectively on October 31 and November 1 last year. The HKSAR Government will set up the preparatory office for the Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation (CMPR) in the first half of this year to study the restructuring and strengthening of the regulatory and approval regime for drugs, medical devices and technologies, and put forward proposals and steps for establishing the CMPR which will be a step towards the transition to the 'primary evaluation' approach."

"Moreover, the HKSAR Government will establish the Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Institute in the Hetao area by the end of this year to provide one-stop clinical trial support services, with a view to further ramping up the capacity and efficiency of clinical trials in Hong Kong and transforming the city into a leading clinical trial hub in Asia."

Professor Lo encouraged pharmaceutical firms in Switzerland to leverage the "1+" mechanism to introduce new drugs to Hong Kong to meet local healthcare needs, and take advantage of the measure of using Hong Kong-registered drugs and medical devices used in Hong Kong public hospitals in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to benefit patients in Mainland cities there. He also called on Swiss pharmaceutical firms to conduct clinical trials in Hong Kong to leverage the unparalleled advantages of the HKSAR, so as to promote the translation and clinical application of advanced biomedical technologies.

The delegation consists of members including Deputy Secretary for Health Ms Elaine Mak, and officials of the Health Bureau and the Department of Health. The delegation proceeded to Zurich at night and will continue their visit in Switzerland on May 30 (Zurich time).

Secretary for Health commences visit to Switzerland to introduce health and medical innovation initiatives in Hong Kong Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Secretary for Health commences visit to Switzerland to introduce health and medical innovation initiatives in Hong Kong Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Secretary for Health commences visit to Switzerland to introduce health and medical innovation initiatives in Hong Kong Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Commissioner of Police inspects passing-out parade of Police Cadet Training at HK Police College

The Commissioner of Police, Mr Chow Yat-ming, inspected the passing-out parade of the Police Cadet Training for 116 cadets at the Hong Kong Police College today (May 3), and witnessed their successful completion of a 22-week professional training.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Chow Yat-ming encouraged the cadets to uphold the core values of "Wisdom, Courage, Integrity, and Perseverance" and to embody the "Cadet Spirit" of the Police Cadet School. He recalled since the establishment of the Cadet School in 1973 until the completion of its historic mission in 1990, over 4 000 elites have been trained and most of them have joined the Force to serve the community.

Mr Chow mentioned the "Diploma of Applied Education - Police Cadet Training" Programme was launched in 2024. The Police Force collaborated with the Caritas Institute of Community Education, the Hong Kong College of Technology as well as the Hong Kong Institute of Technology to offer a programme equipping aspiring police recruits with comprehensive academic, physical, and psychological preparation.

Taught by experienced police officers, most of whom are Cadet School alumni, in the programme offered by the Police College, the curriculum features experiential learning and a "hell week" outdoor training, designed to strengthen cadets' mentality and values, serving as a good preparation for the cadets to proceed directly to a 27-week foundation training at the Police College after completing the diploma, passing medical and character assessments.

Mr Chow highlighted that colleagues graduating from the Cadet School are loyal to missions and never give up. He commended the cadets for demonstrating resilience and teamwork, perfectly establishing the exemplary image and spirit of "Cadets" during their training. He encouraged cadets to transform the resilience and confidence gained from training into motivation for future challenges, and to uphold the principle of "acting with integrity even when alone," always prioritise the public's interests and embody the Force's motto of "Serving Hong Kong with Honour, Duty and Loyalty."

He expressed gratitude to the former Deputy Principals of the Cadet School and over 60 "Cadet" alumni present at the passing-out parade, commending their contributions to the Force and to Hong Kong, while highlighting the enduring unity of the "Cadet" community.

Mr Chow further inspired the cadets with the phrase "Physical strength is finite, but willpower is limitless", encouraging them to remember their instructors' teachings, cherish their camaraderie and uphold the proud traditions of the "Cadets", while continue to contribute to Hong Kong's prosperity and stability.

Commissioner of Police inspects passing-out parade of Police Cadet Training at HK Police College Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Commissioner of Police inspects passing-out parade of Police Cadet Training at HK Police College Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Commissioner of Police inspects passing-out parade of Police Cadet Training at HK Police College Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Commissioner of Police inspects passing-out parade of Police Cadet Training at HK Police College Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases