Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Toronto) (HKETO), Ms Emily Mo, briefed Canadian medical industry professionals on Hong Kong’s strengths in healthcare infrastructure at a virtual meeting co-organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council in Canada and the Hong Kong Canadian Business Association (Ottawa Chapter) on April 18.
In her opening remarks, Ms Mo introduced Hong Kong’s efforts to transform the city into a hub of health and medical innovation, in which some Canadian research institutes and companies have already engaged in collaborative endeavors in research and development (R&D) in Hong Kong.
She went on explaining Hong Kong’s strategic positioning, coupled with its participation in multiple free trade agreements, which grants convenient and tariff-free access to expansive markets including ASEAN and mainland China. “Of particular significance is the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, where measures have been implemented to enable market access for Hong Kong registered companies, including foreign entities registered in Hong Kong,” Ms Mo said.
She continued, “The interest in the global healthcare and biotech sectors has paved the way for unprecedented opportunities for businesses and investors alike. Since mid-2018, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange has permitted the listing of pre-revenue biotech companies, positioning Hong Kong as the world’s second-largest and Asia’s first funding hub for biotech companies. This upward trajectory is projected to continue in the foreseeable future.”
On a local front, Ms Mo said that the Hospital Authority (HA) of Hong Kong, responsible for managing 43 public hospitals, has implemented a unified clinical management computer system, which helped facilitate clinical trial networks and big data research. The HA’s plan to open the Cluster Clinical Research Support Office also underscored the city’s dedication to streamlining and enhancing the clinical trial process.
She concluded by stressing that Hong Kong’s robust super connectivity, commitment to R&D in health innovation, and prowess in fundraising collectively foster an environment conducive to excellence for healthcare businesses worldwide.
Also speaking at the briefing was Dr Gladys Kwan, HA’s Chief Manager of the Medical Grade. She introduced the HA’s efforts in recruiting talents worldwide to join the medical work in Hong Kong. That included the “Global Healthcare Talent Scheme”, which offered medium-term exchange opportunities for non-locally trained doctors to join the HA for around 12 to 24 months, with opportunities to expose to cutting-edge medical technologies and research experience.
Mr Christopher Chen, Head of Invest Hong Kong (Canada), also elaborated on Hong Kong’s well-established business environment and research ecosystems for the healthcare and medical industries.
Through the meeting, the participants learned about the latest developments of Hong Kong’s medical infrastructure and the opportunities for healthcare professionals. They will join a Canadian delegation to visit Hong Kong and join the Asia Summit on Global Health and the Hong Kong International Medical and Healthcare Fair in May.
香港經貿處處長推廣香港醫療保健發展的優勢
香港駐多倫多經濟貿易辦事處（香港經貿處）處長巫菀菁於四月十八日參與由香港貿易發展局多倫多辦事處與港加商會（渥太華分會）合辦的網上會議，向加拿大醫護界別推廣香港醫療基建的優勢。
巫菀菁致辭時介紹香港致力發展成為醫療創新中心，個別加拿大研究機構及企業已在香港進行醫學科技方面的共同研發工作。
巫菀菁續闡述香港的策略性定位，以及與多地簽訂自由貿易協定，使其享有免關稅待遇，更可輕易進入東盟及中國內地等龐大市場。她指出：「其中至關重要的是粵港澳大灣區，有關當局已實施多項措施便利香港註冊企業（包括在港註冊的外國團體）進入市場。」
巫菀菁續指：「全球醫療生物科技界的發展需求殷切，為商界及投資者創造史無前例的機遇。自二○一八年中起，香港交易所已容許未有收入的生物科技公司在港上市，讓香港成為全球第二大、亞洲首要的生物科技融資中心，並在可見未來持續發展。」
香港本地方面，巫菀菁提到負責管理43所醫院的香港醫院管理局（醫管局）已推出統一臨床管理電腦系統，協助發展臨床試驗網絡和大數據研究。此外，醫管局亦開設聯網臨床研究支援辦公室，該計劃正正顯示香港精簡和完善臨床試驗流程的決心。」
最後，巫菀菁強調香港的「超級連繫人」網絡成熟，致力醫療創新研發工作，善於集資，這些因素都能為全球醫療保健企業蓬勃發展提供最佳土壤。
醫管局總行政經理（醫療職系）關慧敏醫生亦在會上介紹醫管局在全球聘請醫護專業加入香港醫療行列的工作，例如「環球醫療人才匯聚計劃」為非本地培訓醫生提供中期交流機會，讓他們在醫管局工作12至24個月，並有機會參與尖端醫療科技及進行研究。
投資推廣署加拿大辦事處總監陳立智亦詳細介紹香港成熟的營商環境及醫護行業的研究生態。
透過是次會議，與會者了解香港醫護基建的最新發展，以及醫護專業的發展機會。他們將於五月隨加拿大訪問團到訪香港，參加亞洲醫療健康高峰論壇，以及香港國際醫療及保健展。
