https://www.scmp.com/rss/318208/feed News on Hong Kong's public and private health sectors plus the latest medical research. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Wynna Wong Wynna Wong More than 1,000 visitors flocked to one of Hong Kong’s most popular geological attractions on the morning of the Mid-Autumn Festival, putting a new real-name reservation system through its first major holiday test. As mainland Chinese tourists began visiting the city for the long weekend, crowds were seen streaming towards the Po Pin Chau section of the High Island Geo Trail in Sai Kung under clear skies, despite the heat on Friday. Many mainland visitors said they had discovered the scenic spot... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3368778/over-1000-visitors-flock-po-pin-chau-trail-mid-autumn-festival-holiday-begins?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3368778/over-1000-visitors-flock-po-pin-chau-trail-mid-autumn-festival-holiday-begins?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Sep 2026 06:51:08 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen The city’s health minister has rejected claims that authorities favour mainland Chinese nurses over local candidates, saying Hong Kong-trained professionals have a “very good chance” of finding work because public hospitals are struggling to recruit. Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau said on Friday that the Hospital Authority had hired 95 per cent of local applicants for nursing positions over the past year. The figure rose to 99 per cent among applicants with registered nurse qualifications. He... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3368770/health-chief-rejects-claims-chinese-nurses-are-favoured-over-local-candidates?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3368770/health-chief-rejects-claims-chinese-nurses-are-favoured-over-local-candidates?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Sep 2026 05:55:28 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung Hong Kong has cut its cancer-related death rate by more than 40 per cent over the past three decades, the health minister has said, as the chief executive renewed his pledge to make the city a hub for medical innovation. Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau outlined the city’s progress in controlling the disease at the World Cancer Congress, which is being held in Hong Kong for the first time. Citing figures from 1993 to 2023, Lo said Hong Kong’s age-standardised cancer mortality rate had fallen by... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3368624/hong-kong-reports-more-40-drop-cancer-related-death-rate-over-30-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3368624/hong-kong-reports-more-40-drop-cancer-related-death-rate-over-30-years?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Sep 2026 07:34:32 +0000 Michael Jinghan Zeng Michael Jinghan Zeng Hong Kong’s first five-year plan gives its universities an opportunity to show what their research can do for the city. Its ambitions for technology, regional development and international cooperation depend on decisions about institutions and people’s lives. Social scientists should help shape those decisions from the outset. The blueprint explicitly addresses public governance, including civil service performance, departmental coordination and digital administration. It also provides for... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3368356/hong-kong-needs-social-science-help-deliver-its-5-year-plan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3368356/hong-kong-needs-social-science-help-deliver-its-5-year-plan?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 08:30:06 +0000 Christine Loh Christine Loh Hong Kong deserves credit for its first five-year plan, accompanied by a detailed policy address. The plan establishes a useful framework beyond the annual policy cycle. Precisely because this is an important first effort, it is worth asking what could make the framework even stronger. One striking omission is that the five-year plan never explicitly mentions climate change. This does not mean Hong Kong is failing to act. On the contrary, the plan and policy address contain many measures dealing... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3368261/hong-kong-lacks-climate-narrative-unify-its-efforts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3368261/hong-kong-lacks-climate-narrative-unify-its-efforts?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Sep 2026 08:30:05 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Animal welfare groups in Hong Kong have called for a legal loophole in pet ownership laws to be closed to better protect public safety, after authorities pledged to review stray dog policies following Sunday’s suspected fatal mauling of a woman. The groups said that, based on their experience, the 27-year-old victim was more likely to have been attacked by former warehouse guard dogs than strays. But existing legal provisions made it difficult to prosecute owners who failed to microchip or... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3368298/hong-kong-animal-groups-call-tighter-pet-laws-after-suspected-fatal-mauling?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3368298/hong-kong-animal-groups-call-tighter-pet-laws-after-suspected-fatal-mauling?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Sep 2026 00:30:07 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong education authorities have cut the number of subsidised places for physiotherapy and occupational therapy programmes at three self-financing institutions by about a third for the 2027-28 academic year, amid a jobs crunch for graduates. A physiotherapy association backed the reduction to avoid worsening unemployment in the sector, saying any future increase in places would depend on government funding. The Education Bureau on Monday announced that its Study Subsidy Scheme for Designated... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3368286/subsidised-physiotherapy-places-slashed-third-amid-graduate-job-crunch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3368286/subsidised-physiotherapy-places-slashed-third-amid-graduate-job-crunch?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Sep 2026 13:05:04 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung Doctors in Hong Kong have been urged to arrange blood tests for patients with symptoms of chikungunya fever, regardless of their travel history, after the city recorded its first local case of the mosquito-borne disease this year. The Centre for Health Protection issued a reminder to doctors on Thursday after a 55-year-old woman with no recent travel history was reported as Hong Kong’s first locally acquired chikungunya fever case in 2026. “To facilitate early diagnosis and timely public health... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3368007/doctors-urged-test-chikungunya-hong-kong-detects-first-local-2026-case?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3368007/doctors-urged-test-chikungunya-hong-kong-detects-first-local-2026-case?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Sep 2026 09:06:30 +0000 Natalie Wong Natalie Wong Hong Kong’s leader has unveiled the city’s first five-year blueprint, aligned with China’s national development strategy, setting targets to nearly double innovation spending and raise the share of manufacturing and new industries to 5.5 per cent of the economy. In a historically significant new approach, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu prefaced his annual policy address on Wednesday with a comprehensive set of binding and anticipatory or aspirational longer-term targets for Hong Kong up to the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3367768/hong-kong-sets-5-year-plan-double-innovation-spending-boost-new-industries?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3367768/hong-kong-sets-5-year-plan-double-innovation-spending-boost-new-industries?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Sep 2026 15:23:47 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Hong Kong has pledged to boost the share of zero-carbon energy in its electricity generation fuel mix to 30 per cent by 2030, up from the current 28 per cent – one of four binding environmental protection targets set out in the city’s first five-year plan on Wednesday. The binding goal aligns with existing climate protection strategies that target a zero-carbon energy share of between 60 and 70 per cent by 2035, as part of the city’s broader push towards carbon neutrality by 2050. “With these... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3367742/hong-kong-aims-raise-zero-carbon-energy-share-fuel-mix-30-2030?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3367742/hong-kong-aims-raise-zero-carbon-energy-share-fuel-mix-30-2030?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Sep 2026 12:02:04 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong aims to reduce the risk of premature deaths from some major chronic diseases to 6.9 per cent by 2030 by investing heavily in primary healthcare and prevention, authorities have said. Delivering his annual policy address and the city’s first five-year plan, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Wednesday also unveiled plans to develop the city’s first integrated ambulatory care hospital at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital site in King’s Park after its relocation to Kai Tak. The facility will... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3367730/hong-kong-invest-primary-care-cut-premature-death-risk-69?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3367730/hong-kong-invest-primary-care-cut-premature-death-risk-69?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Sep 2026 10:39:03 +0000 Tilman Leo Hohenberger,Kimberly Tasha Jiayi Tang Tilman Leo Hohenberger,Kimberly Tasha Jiayi Tang At the beginning of August, when temperatures in Hong Kong hit highs not seen for at least 140 years, the Labour Department’s Heat Stress at Work Warning system remained at the amber level, the lowest of three tiers. The controversy that followed raised a broader question: are our heat warnings adequately protecting people who work outdoors? The Labour Department has since announced changes that will lead to earlier heat-stress warnings. These improvements to worker protection are welcome. But... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3367306/hong-kong-must-prepare-impact-heat-related-work-stoppages?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3367306/hong-kong-must-prepare-impact-heat-related-work-stoppages?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Sep 2026 08:30:05 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong’s silver economy is set to become a HK$500 billion (US$63.8 billion) market by 2034, the city’s finance chief has said, urging the elderly care industry to deploy technology and explore cross-border opportunities. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said on Monday that Hong Kong’s ageing population presented both a challenge and a “promising blue ocean” market opportunity for the city, which could serve as a model for other regions. In a speech at an event to mark the 30th anniversary... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3367463/hong-kongs-hk500b-silver-economy-2034-offers-blue-ocean-prospects-paul-chan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3367463/hong-kongs-hk500b-silver-economy-2034-offers-blue-ocean-prospects-paul-chan?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 14 Sep 2026 10:00:20 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu A lunch supplier will stop portioning meals in classrooms at a Hong Kong primary school following a suspected food poisoning outbreak that hit 39 pupils and staff members last week. Danny Catering Service said in a statement on Sunday to its school partners, parents and teachers that the incident was “isolated” and linked to the school’s portioning arrangement, and did not affect its services at other locations. “To ensure student food safety and avoid potential cross-contamination or... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3367363/supplier-end-classroom-lunch-portioning-sha-tin-primary-after-39-fall-ill?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3367363/supplier-end-classroom-lunch-portioning-sha-tin-primary-after-39-fall-ill?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 13 Sep 2026 13:02:45 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung In the final instalment of the Health Matters wellness series on Hong Kong’s growing wellness trends, Emily Hung examines alternative therapies helping residents restore their balance, as practitioners stress that small, conscious moments can make the biggest difference. For Hong Kong film practitioner Ngai Tsz-wai, peace of mind begins on all fours. The 40-year-old practises animal flow, a quadrupedal, ground-based movement system that blends elements of yoga, dance, gymnastics and martial... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3367298/all-fours-or-wilderness-retreat-how-hongkongers-are-reclaiming-their-calm?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3367298/all-fours-or-wilderness-retreat-how-hongkongers-are-reclaiming-their-calm?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 13 Sep 2026 11:00:09 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong health authorities are investigating an outbreak of suspected food poisoning that hit 39 pupils and staff members who ate lunch at a Sha Tin school earlier this week. Twenty-three boys and 14 girls, aged between five and 11, from Baptist (Sha Tin Wai) Lui Ming Choi Primary School and two employees, aged 34 and 38, were affected. They developed stomach pain and diarrhoea about eight to 22 hours after eating school lunches provided by a supplier on Wednesday. A spokesman for the school,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3367323/39-pupils-and-staff-fall-ill-after-eating-school-lunches-sha-tin?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3367323/39-pupils-and-staff-fall-ill-after-eating-school-lunches-sha-tin?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 12 Sep 2026 15:20:39 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung About 60 per cent of Hong Kong’s first batch of dental graduates who underwent mandatory internship training have joined the city’s Department of Health, a move that has helped “significantly ease” the manpower crunch. The development followed a controversial amendment to the Dentists Registration Ordinance in 2024, requiring all dental graduates in Hong Kong to complete a 12-month internship before obtaining a full licence starting in 2025. The measure aimed to enhance hands-on clinical... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3367196/over-60-new-dentists-join-department-health-after-mandatory-internship?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3367196/over-60-new-dentists-join-department-health-after-mandatory-internship?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 11 Sep 2026 09:08:35 +0000 Kristen Cheung Kristen Cheung All logos, colourful designs and branding will be stripped from cigarette packs in Hong Kong under new rules that take effect in March next year as part of a fresh push to reduce smoking rates. The Department of Health announced on Thursday that subsidiary legislation would require all retail packs of cigarettes, long cigarette boxes and specified cigars to drop brand logos and advertising elements. Only brand and variant names in a prescribed font will be permitted, printed in standardised... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3367037/hong-kong-roll-out-plain-cigarette-packs-march-full-enforcement-december?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3367037/hong-kong-roll-out-plain-cigarette-packs-march-full-enforcement-december?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Sep 2026 08:41:41 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung The suicide rate among under-15s in Hong Kong rose to a decade-high in 2025, defying an overall downward trend, with social media activity strongly linked to cases among young people, according to research from a local university. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention at the University of Hong Kong also used World Suicide Prevention Day on Thursday to call for schools to strengthen support for students in light of a spate of suicide attempts around the start of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3367030/hku-raises-alarm-over-suicide-rate-among-under-15s-warns-social-media-impact?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3367030/hku-raises-alarm-over-suicide-rate-among-under-15s-warns-social-media-impact?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Sep 2026 07:51:30 +0000 Paul Yip Paul Yip As we observe World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10, the global community reflects on a sobering reality: suicide remains a leading cause of death among young people. Every year, more than 720,000 people die by suicide – each life a story cut short, a family shattered, a community left to grapple with unbearable loss. In Hong Kong, the Jockey Club Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention (CSRP) at the University of Hong Kong estimates last year’s suicide rate at 13.0 per 100,000 in the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3366437/social-media-must-join-fight-against-teen-suicides?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3366437/social-media-must-join-fight-against-teen-suicides?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Sep 2026 01:30:05 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung Hong Kong’s medical watchdog has said a target time frame for handling complaints will not be necessary as it presented its rebuttal against a government proposal that includes major reforms to its operations, disciplinary sentencing, internal supervision and membership make-up. The Medical Council on Tuesday presented its views on the government’s proposed amendments, which were first laid out in late June and aimed to speed up the watchdog’s process and accountability in handling... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3366950/hong-kong-medical-council-rejects-proposal-time-frame-handling-complaints?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3366950/hong-kong-medical-council-rejects-proposal-time-frame-handling-complaints?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Sep 2026 12:40:55 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Hong Kong authorities have reserved the right to seek compensation from contractors over faulty lift installation work that has delayed operations at Queen Mary Hospital’s new block, the development minister has said. Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho said on Tuesday that the main contractor, a Paul Y-Able joint venture, and lift subcontractor Anlev Elex Elevator would be required to bear all costs of remedial work, ensuring public expenditure on the project would not... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3366761/hong-kong-reserves-right-seek-compensation-over-faulty-hospital-lift-work?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3366761/hong-kong-reserves-right-seek-compensation-over-faulty-hospital-lift-work?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Sep 2026 08:38:23 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Hong Kong authorities will review a new reservation system for a Sai Kung trail famed for its dramatic volcanic rock columns after the National Day “golden week” in October, following large numbers of no-shows during the first two trial runs. Only 1,560 registered and walk-in patrons arrived at Po Pin Chau on Saturday and Sunday, despite 3,230 people having made bookings under the real-name reservation system. Lawmakers and a district councillor have called for more on-site quotas, clearer... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3366560/hong-kong-review-bookings-famous-sai-kung-trail-after-high-no-show-rate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3366560/hong-kong-review-bookings-famous-sai-kung-trail-after-high-no-show-rate?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 06 Sep 2026 14:13:33 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying In the fourth instalment of a five-part Health Matters wellness series on Hong Kong’s growing wellness trends, Lo Hoi-ying examines how telehealth is reshaping access to care, as practitioners warn it cannot fully replace in-person diagnosis. Hong Kong housewife Chan Ket-yee, nearly 60, has battled severe eczema on her neck and underarms for decades. Splitting her time between the United Kingdom and the city, Chan saw a dramatic improvement after visiting a Hong Kong public dermatologist, whose... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3366499/there-are-trade-offs-how-hong-kong-patients-can-use-telemedicine-wisely?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3366499/there-are-trade-offs-how-hong-kong-patients-can-use-telemedicine-wisely?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 06 Sep 2026 11:00:07 +0000 Dennis Lee Dennis Lee The Labour Department recently upgraded its Heat Stress at Work Warning system, making it easier for higher-tier alerts to be sent out, so that employers and workers, especially those who have to work outdoors, can react quickly during very hot weather. Unfortunately, the most we seem to be able to do is issue warnings and recommend passive mitigation measures such as relaxing the work schedule, resting in the shade and staying hydrated. We are sitting ducks as temperatures peak year after... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3365989/era-extreme-summers-its-time-look-beyond-air-conditioning?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3365989/era-extreme-summers-its-time-look-beyond-air-conditioning?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 06 Sep 2026 01:30:07 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Hong Kong health authorities have detected seven additional suspected food poisoning cases linked to a hotel restaurant in Yau Ma Tei, raising the total number of affected diners to 14. The Centre for Health Protection said on Saturday it had identified three additional food poisoning clusters involving The Astor restaurant at Eaton HK, after initially announcing two clusters on September 3. “The centre’s preliminary investigations revealed that all five clusters are epidemiologically linked,”... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3366480/14-fall-ill-after-dining-eaton-hk-hotel-restaurant?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3366480/14-fall-ill-after-dining-eaton-hk-hotel-restaurant?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 05 Sep 2026 09:30:35 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung,Emily Hung Elizabeth Cheung,Emily Hung Soon after becoming a mother, Hong Kong resident Sarah Tam enjoyed eight hours of sleep a night and yoga sessions at a post-partum care centre in neighbouring Shenzhen, where carers looked after her newborn around the clock. Tam, a 30-year-old social worker who gave birth in mid-July, spent a month at the facility in mainland China, recovering from delivery with total peace of mind. She said she felt completely at ease leaving her baby in their care, which allowed “mothers to truly focus on... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3366276/faster-and-cheaper-why-hongkongers-are-heading-north-medical-care?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3366276/faster-and-cheaper-why-hongkongers-are-heading-north-medical-care?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Sep 2026 00:30:06 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong’s weather forecaster could issue a higher typhoon signal closer to the weekend after Tropical Cyclone Saudel experienced a rare resurgence, with the potential to change course over the South China Sea and edge towards the Pearl River Delta. The Observatory said the No 1 typhoon signal would remain in force for the rest of Wednesday and into Thursday morning, as Saudel was expected to linger over the northeastern South China Sea and remain about 300km (167 miles) or more from the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3366053/higher-typhoon-signal-possible-depending-saudels-course-after-rare-resurgence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3366053/higher-typhoon-signal-possible-depending-saudels-course-after-rare-resurgence?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 02 Sep 2026 04:16:11 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Hong Kong school students and other at-risk residents can receive influenza vaccines one week earlier this year, after the government diversified its procurement efforts and streamlined administrative measures. Authorities also said on Monday they aimed to boost the injection rate among people aged 65 or above and children aged six months to two years, adding that they would rely on reminders from doctors during medical encounters as a prioritised measure. Dr Edwin Tsui Lok-kin, controller of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3365819/hong-kong-students-high-risk-cases-can-get-flu-vaccines-1-week-early-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3365819/hong-kong-students-high-risk-cases-can-get-flu-vaccines-1-week-early-year?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 31 Aug 2026 07:14:41 +0000 Victor Ting Victor Ting In the third instalment of a five-part Health Matters wellness series on Hong Kong’s growing wellness trends, Victor Ting examines how wearable devices are reshaping personal healthcare in the city, as experts caution that they should not replace professional medical advice. Alice Wong had little idea how seriously ill she might become until unusual patterns on her smartwatch prompted her to seek medical advice. A year ago, Wong, who was still in her twenties, had bought the device but paid... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3365718/warning-saved-my-life-can-hongkongers-trust-smartwatches-or-are-they-being-misled?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3365718/warning-saved-my-life-can-hongkongers-trust-smartwatches-or-are-they-being-misled?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 30 Aug 2026 11:00:10 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong authorities will take enforcement action against dog owners who fail to keep their pets under control during special operations taking place on Sunday and the following weekend in response to a spate of canine attacks. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) also said on Friday that it seized a fighting dog at a restaurant in Stanley two days earlier after conducting an inspection in response to a complaint. It said that it would prosecute the owner if there was... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3365651/hong-kong-authorities-get-tough-careless-dog-owners-during-special-operations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3365651/hong-kong-authorities-get-tough-careless-dog-owners-during-special-operations?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Aug 2026 13:47:54 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong has launched the first regional mediation and arbitration platform dedicated to medical and healthcare services as part of the city’s efforts to resolve local and cross-border disputes and strengthen its bid to become an international legal services hub. The Healthcare Dispute Resolution Centre, a non-profit organisation set up in 2024, announced its new online platform on Friday, providing both virtual and face-to-face services for patients and medical practitioners to settle... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3365620/hong-kong-launches-first-regional-mediation-platform-medical-disputes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3365620/hong-kong-launches-first-regional-mediation-platform-medical-disputes?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Aug 2026 11:03:47 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Hong Kong’s outdoor workers could still lack adequate rest under the revamped heat stress warning system, a lawmaker and a construction industry representative have said, adding that work breaks triggered by higher alerts are not protected by law. The response followed the Labour Department’s announcement on Thursday that it had updated the Heat Stress at Work Warning system to better safeguard workers, after the mechanism was criticised for not triggering higher-tier alerts during... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3365560/revised-heat-stress-warning-system-may-lack-rest-provisions-industry-experts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3365560/revised-heat-stress-warning-system-may-lack-rest-provisions-industry-experts?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Aug 2026 07:05:33 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong labour authorities have unveiled changes to the system that sends out warnings to workers about overexertion during very hot weather, reducing the threshold so higher-tier alerts can be issued more easily following intense criticism of the mechanism. The Labour Department said on Thursday that two new conditions would be introduced to the Heat Stress at Work Warning system starting on Friday. The system has three warning levels – amber, red and black – which alert employers and staff... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3365453/hong-kong-lowers-heat-stress-warning-system-thresholds-after-criticism?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3365453/hong-kong-lowers-heat-stress-warning-system-thresholds-after-criticism?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Aug 2026 08:52:59 +0000 Edith Lin,Theodora Yu Edith Lin,Theodora Yu Yung, an elderly Hong Kong resident, has spent hours hanging out at a neighbourhood shopping centre in Kwai Chung all summer. But he has not been going there to shop, instead taking refuge from the sweltering heat in the mall’s soothing air-conditioned arcade. The retiree, who lives in a 100 sq ft subdivided flat with his wife, is reluctant to use the air conditioner for long periods to avoid a hefty electricity bill, despite the hot and stuffy weather in recent weeks. “There have been more... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3365367/hong-kong-faces-more-heatwaves-what-must-be-done-make-city-more-resilient?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3365367/hong-kong-faces-more-heatwaves-what-must-be-done-make-city-more-resilient?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:30:08 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong health authorities have confirmed that no child has shown signs of poisoning after drinking a batch of infant formula found to contain excessive levels of lead. The Department of Health gave an update on Wednesday, a month after Macau authorities alerted the public that a batch of Frisolac Prestige Stage 1 infant formula, manufactured by the Dutch company Royal FrieslandCampina, might contain lead levels exceeding permissible limits. The department said its dedicated hotline and the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3365338/no-lead-poisoning-children-linked-infant-formula-scare-health-authorities?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3365338/no-lead-poisoning-children-linked-infant-formula-scare-health-authorities?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Aug 2026 10:39:48 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun The Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong will launch 24-hour inpatient services in December – a first for the city – and charge patients HK$980 (US$125) per day for subsidised care, more than three times the fee at public hospitals. The city’s first dedicated traditional Chinese medicine hospital will also launch 10 additional special disease programmes within this year to help treat conditions such as eczema and Parkinson’s disease. The hospital, which opened last December in Tseung Kwan O,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3365220/hong-kongs-chinese-medicine-hospital-start-24-hour-inpatient-services-december?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3365220/hong-kongs-chinese-medicine-hospital-start-24-hour-inpatient-services-december?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Aug 2026 11:00:17 +0000 Kate Chan Kate Chan Hong Kong preschoolers will be offered free dental check-ups starting next month, with more than 70 per cent of the city’s kindergartens having already signed up for the new government initiative. The Department of Health announced on Monday the launch of the Outreach Oral Health Programme for Preschool Children on September 1, aimed at fostering oral hygiene habits and preventing tooth decay at an early stage. Under the scheme, dental teams from 23 participating service providers will visit... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3365080/hong-kong-offer-free-dental-check-ups-preschoolers-september?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3365080/hong-kong-offer-free-dental-check-ups-preschoolers-september?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Aug 2026 11:38:27 +0000 Eric Jiang,Leopold Chen Eric Jiang,Leopold Chen Hong Kong has launched its first countryside real-name reservation system, capping daily visitors to a popular trail in Sai Kung at 2,000 on select dates, with a lawmaker and a district councillor saying the move could gather data to help shape formal arrangements. The trial reservation system for visits to the Po Pin Chau trail in Sai Kung East Country Park went live at 11am on Monday, offering the first batch of slots for September 5 and 6 via Klook’s website, app and WeChat mini-programme. A... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3365057/hong-kong-launches-real-name-booking-system-popular-sai-kung-coastal-trail?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3365057/hong-kong-launches-real-name-booking-system-popular-sai-kung-coastal-trail?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Aug 2026 09:02:40 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Nearly 80 per cent of low-income elderly people surveyed in Hong Kong reported physical or mental distress during periods of extreme heat, prompting calls for stronger government support and heat-prevention measures. Data from the Department of Health cited by Greenpeace identified elderly people as the city’s demographic most at risk from extreme temperatures. The number of hospital discharges and deaths related to heatstroke among people aged 65 or above rose 16-fold between 2015 and 2024,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3365037/78-low-income-elderly-hongkongers-report-heat-related-distress-survey-finds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3365037/78-low-income-elderly-hongkongers-report-heat-related-distress-survey-finds?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Aug 2026 06:57:09 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen The likelihood that Hong Kong’s weather forecaster will issue a typhoon signal in the next two days is “relatively low”, although multiple tropical cyclones are set to bring unsettled weather to the city later this week. The Observatory said at noon on Monday that Tropical Storm Narra was expected to skirt the coast of the Leizhou Peninsula in western Guangdong province in the coming days while “maintaining some distance from Hong Kong”. “Unless Narra further edges closer to the vicinity of the... https://www.scmp.com/weather/hong-kong/article/3365034/typhoon-signal-hong-kong-unlikely-next-2-days-expect-unsettled-weather?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/weather/hong-kong/article/3365034/typhoon-signal-hong-kong-unlikely-next-2-days-expect-unsettled-weather?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Aug 2026 06:25:56 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Half of Hong Kong’s government departments and public bodies have not disclosed their greenhouse gas emissions data and some calculations have been based on outdated information, a green group has found. The findings from The Green Earth have prompted calls for stronger carbon reporting and the setting of reduction targets across the public sector to align with the city’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality before 2050. The non-profit group’s study of 82 public entities found that while 41... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3364987/half-hong-kongs-public-bodies-omit-emissions-data-green-group-finds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3364987/half-hong-kongs-public-bodies-omit-emissions-data-green-group-finds?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Aug 2026 02:00:22 +0000 Olga Wong Olga Wong The Hong Kong Observatory may issue a typhoon signal on Tuesday or Wednesday as a tropical storm edges closer to the region. “Tropical Cyclone Narra is expected to linger over the vicinity of Beibu Wan today and tomorrow, and then turn northeastwards gradually later on Monday to Tuesday, edging closer to the vicinity of Leizhou Peninsula,” the forecaster said on Sunday. Leizhou Peninsula sits at the far southwestern tip of Guangdong province, some 400km (248.5 miles) west-southwest of Hong... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3364956/hong-kong-may-issue-typhoon-signal-tuesday-or-wednesday-narra-approaches?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3364956/hong-kong-may-issue-typhoon-signal-tuesday-or-wednesday-narra-approaches?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 23 Aug 2026 05:09:59 +0000 Cannix Yau Cannix Yau About 280,000 patients have secured full fee waivers since Hong Kong’s public healthcare charges were overhauled at the start of the year, a 20-fold increase from the previous figure of 14,000, the health minister has said. Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau revealed the figures on Saturday as he defended the reform, which raised user fees for non-urgent and less serious services to reduce the government subsidy rate. He said the changes were intended to optimise the use of existing resources and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3364912/full-fee-waivers-rise-20-fold-280000-after-healthcare-reform-minister-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3364912/full-fee-waivers-rise-20-fold-280000-after-healthcare-reform-minister-says?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Aug 2026 07:08:08 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Hong Kong’s weather forecaster will assess next week whether to issue a typhoon warning as Tropical Storm Narra is expected to edge closer to the western coast of Guangdong province in mainland China. The Observatory said on Saturday morning the storm was expected to linger over the vicinity of Beibu Wan, also known as the Gulf of Tonkin, before possibly turning east to northeast gradually early next week. “The Observatory will closely monitor its movement and the change in local wind... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3364900/hong-kong-assess-typhoon-warning-tropical-storm-narra-nears-guangdong-coast?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3364900/hong-kong-assess-typhoon-warning-tropical-storm-narra-nears-guangdong-coast?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Aug 2026 03:58:34 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li Hong Kong authorities will cap access to a popular Sai Kung trail overlooking hexagonal rock columns at 2,000 people per day during several stretches from next month and require real-name registration for visitors, marking the city’s first countryside crowd-control measures of their kind. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department announced the arrangement on Friday for the Po Pin Chau section of the High Island Geo Trail, after the proposal was floated in April. The trail is within... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3364876/quota-set-visitors-popular-sai-kung-coastal-trail-first-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3364876/quota-set-visitors-popular-sai-kung-coastal-trail-first-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Aug 2026 12:40:37 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft A team of researchers from the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has conducted the city’s first robot-assisted pelvic fracture surgery in what promises to be a safer, less intrusive alternative to a procedure typically considered among the most challenging. CUHK’s faculty of medicine said on Friday that the novel orthopaedic robotic surgical system could turn a “new page” in trauma care amid a rising number of pelvic fracture cases among the city’s rapidly ageing population. Dr Ronald Wong... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3364843/cuhk-researchers-perform-hong-kongs-first-robot-assisted-pelvic-fracture-surgery?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3364843/cuhk-researchers-perform-hong-kongs-first-robot-assisted-pelvic-fracture-surgery?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Aug 2026 11:00:07 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun An obstetrician to the stars has been cleared of professional misconduct by Hong Kong’s medical watchdog over allegations she failed to properly record why she administered a labour-inducing drug to a patient who said the procedure left her traumatised. Dr Liang Shuk-tak, who reportedly had delivered babies for actresses Brigitte Lin Ching-hsia and Cecilia Cheung Pak-chi, and Olympic diving champion Guo Jingjing, was accused of failing to “properly document” the fetal head position, maternal... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3364600/doctor-stars-cleared-over-failure-record-reason-using-labour-drug?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3364600/doctor-stars-cleared-over-failure-record-reason-using-labour-drug?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Aug 2026 14:38:54 +0000 Kate Chan Kate Chan Hong Kong’s main psychiatric hospital has unveiled the city’s first facility exclusively dedicated to child and adolescent patients, as part of a wider redevelopment that offers upgraded wards designed to enhance service quality and foster recovery. The redevelopment of Kwai Chung Hospital has increased the total construction floor area from 80,000 to 134,000 square metres, ensuring it can provide 1,000 beds for psychiatric patients. It also involved the reallocation of specialist outpatient... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3364597/hong-kong-unveils-its-first-dedicated-psychiatric-facility-under-18s?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3364597/hong-kong-unveils-its-first-dedicated-psychiatric-facility-under-18s?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Aug 2026 13:30:01 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft The Hong Kong Observatory has said it will consider issuing the No 1 typhoon signal over the weekend, as it tracks a low-pressure system that could approach the city and bring stormy weather. The forecaster said on Wednesday that the area of low pressure over the northern part of the South China Sea was moving westward and edging closer to the southern section of the mainland Chinese province of Hainan. “There are relatively large uncertainties in the movement of the area of low pressure after... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3364584/observatory-keeps-eye-low-pressure-area-consider-issuing-t1-over-weekend?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3364584/observatory-keeps-eye-low-pressure-area-consider-issuing-t1-over-weekend?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Aug 2026 11:29:16 +0000