Government Announces New Appointments to Hong Kong Genome Institute Board of Directors

Government announces appointments to Board of Directors of Hong Kong Genome Institute

The Government announced the appointments to the Board of Directors of the Hong Kong Genome Institute (HKGI) today (November 15).

The Secretary for Health has reappointed Mr Philip Tsai Wing-chung and Professor Raymond Liang Hin-suen as the Chairperson and the Deputy Chairperson of the HKGI respectively, with their tenure ending on July 26, 2026.

Separately, a total of 12 non-official Directors have also been reappointed, while three non-official Directors, namely Professor Allen Chan Kwan-chee, Professor Herbert Chia Pun-kok and Professor Ian Wong Chi-kei, have been newly appointed. The tenure of all non-official Directors will end on November 4, 2026.

The HKGI, a private company limited by guarantee and wholly owned by the Government, commenced full operation in 2021 to implement the Hong Kong Genome Project (HKGP) as its first key initiative. The HKGI is committed to fostering the development of genomic medicine in Hong Kong. With support from the Health Bureau, it has been closely collaborating with the Department of Health, the Hospital Authority, the medical schools of local universities and other stakeholders to accelerate the integration of genomic medicine into clinical applications, advance scientific research, nurture talent and enhance public genomic literacy.

The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, said, "As the HKGP progresses towards a new stage, the Government anticipates that the HKGI will actively use genomic data in formulating a directory for inherited and rare diseases to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment by clinical teams, while supporting drug research and development as well as clinical trials to drive the development of Hong Kong into an international health and medical innovation hub.

"I am confident that, under the sterling leadership of Mr Tsai and Professor Liang, together with support from the Board comprising members with extensive experience in diverse fields, the future development of the HKGI will scale new heights and benefit more patients in future."

Professor Lo also expressed gratitude to the retired members, namely Professor Chan Wai-yee and Professor Alfonso Ngan Hing-wan, for their staunch support and invaluable contributions to the work of the HKGI during their tenure.

The latest membership of the Board of Directors of the HKGI is as follows:

Chairperson: Mr Philip Tsai Wing-chung

Deputy Chairperson: Professor Raymond Liang Hin-suen

Non-official Directors: Professor Allen Chan Kwan-chee

Mr Ray Chan

Ms Ivy Cheung Wing-han

Professor Herbert Chia Pun-kok

Professor Wallace Lau Chak-sing

Dr Shawn Leung Shui-on

Dr Isabella Liu

Professor Dennis Lo Yuk-ming

Mr Tim Pang Hung-cheong

Mr Stephen Wong Kai-yi

Professor Ian Wong Chi-kei

Dr Michael Wong Lap-gate

Professor Wong Yung-hou

Professor Yip Shea-ping

Professor Yiu Siu-ming

Chief Executive Officer, Hong Kong Genome Institute

(Dr Lo Su-vui)

Official Directors: Under Secretary for Health

(Dr Libby Lee Ha-yun)

Deputy Secretary for Health

(Mr Sam Hui Chark-shum)

Deputy Director of Health

(Dr Teresa Li Mun-pik)

Results of Primary One discretionary places to be released November 18

The results of Primary One discretionary places for September 2025 will be released next Monday (November 18) by all government and aided primary schools.

A spokesman for the Education Bureau (EDB) said today (November 15), "There are 41 781 children applying for discretionary places in government and aided primary schools this year, of whom 20 644 will be offered a place in these schools. Among them a total of 10 644children are applicants with sibling(s) studying or with parent(s) working in the schools that they have applied to, whereas the remaining 10 000 are selected according to the Points System."

Parents who have already activated their Primary One Admission e-platform (ePOA) account are reminded to check the results via the ePOA from 10am next Monday. Parents can also bring the parent's copy of the paper Application Form for POA and check the results of their discretionary place application between 9am and 5pm on that day at the school to which they have applied.

Parents whose children have been offered a discretionary place are advised to note carefully the registration arrangements of the schools concernedand the documents required for registration, such as the parent's copy of the paper Application Form for POA or the electronic application record in the ePOA, as well as the specified number of photographs of their children. They should register their children next Wednesday (November 20) or Thursday (November 21) at the school to which they have applied during school hours.

"Parents who cannot register within the specified period should notify the person-in-charge of the school in advance to make alternative arrangements. Otherwise, they will be deemed to have given up their discretionary place," the spokesman said.

Under the POA System, each government or aided primary school may make use of about 50 per cent of its total Primary One places as discretionary places. Theapproximate 50 per cent ofplaces remaining will be reserved for Central Allocation at a later stage.

"Parents of applicant children who have failed to secure a discretionary place or who have opted for Central Allocation only will be invited by the EDB via letter in early January 2025 to submit the Choice of Schools Form via ePOA from January 13 to 19 or to make choices of schools for Central Allocation at a designated Central Allocation Centre on January 18 or 19. We encourage parents to register with 'iAM Smart+' (www.iamsmart.gov.hk/en/reg.html) as early as possible and activate their ePOA account using 'iAM Smart+' for more convenient and faster electronic services.

"For applications for participation in POA 2025 made after January 19, parents are required to approach the School Places Allocation Section of the EDB to complete the necessary procedures. The EDB will separately arrange a Primary One place for the applicant children in June 2025," the spokesman said.

"Parents should note that once their children have been allocated a Primary One place, they cannot take part in the POA System again in the future," he added.