The Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, led members of the Hong Kong Logistics Development Council (LOGSCOUNCIL) and representatives from the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department as well as the Marine Department to visit Guangxi today (January 8), where they viewed local transport and logistics facilities and introduced the local trade to Hong Kong's latest logistics development.

     Upon her arrival in Nanning yesterday evening (January 7), Ms Chan met with the Executive Vice Chairman of the People's Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Mr Xu Yongke, and exchanged views on strengthening maritime and logistics collaborations between Hong Kong and Guangxi. Speaking at a Guangxi-Hong Kong seminar on transport and logistics this morning, Ms Chan said that Hong Kong serves as a prominent bridge connecting the nation with the global market, while Guangxi is an important channel for exchanges with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and also a key node under the Belt and Road Initiative. Hong Kong and Guangxi signed the Framework Agreement on Deepening Strategic Co-operation for the Guangxi-Hong Kong Task Force on Transport and Logistics last year, opening up expansive room for co-operation between the two places in the areas of transportation and logistics.

     Ms Chan and the delegation later visited the Nanning International Railway Port and the China-Singapore Nanning International Logistics Park to learn about the operation of the related facilities. "This is my first duty visit since assuming the office of the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, and it is also the first Mainland duty visit for the LOGSCOUNCIL after the pandemic, underscoring our high priority attached to the logistics and maritime collaboration between Hong Kong and Guangxi," Ms Chan said. 

     Ms Chan added that Hong Kong, being an international maritime, aviation and logistics hub, is privileged to enjoy the institutional advantage of being "part of China but outside the Mainland". Since the commissioning of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the driving distance between Hong Kong and Guangxi has been largely shortened. Together with the commissioning of the Three-Runway System at Hong Kong International Airport which enhances the air cargo capacity of the city, Hong Kong can better utilise the extensive aviation network to connect the Mainland with the world where goods from Guangxi can be more readily exported to various overseas destinations. On the other hand, arising from the promotion of building a "New Land-Sea Corridor for Western Regions", the recent development of the Guangxi Beibu Gulf has been rapid. As an international maritime centre, Hong Kong's advantage of possessing numerous and dense shipping routes can provide highly efficient and convenient transit services for goods transferring to and from the Beibu Gulf. Ms Chan expects to further enhance and deepen the logistics and maritime ties between Hong Kong and Guangxi to facilitate logistics and maritime connectivity.
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     Ms Chan concluded her duty visit to Guangxi and will return to Hong Kong tonight. 

                  

     Hong Kong Customs conducted anti-narcotics operations and detected two dangerous drug cases in Causeway Bay, Tai Po and Yuen Long yesterday (January 7), seizing about 33 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine, about 1.9kg of suspected "space oil drug", about 1kg of suspected cocaine, about 60 grams of suspected crack cocaine, 13 suspected "space oil drug" capsules and 41 vape sticks containing suspected tetrahydro-cannabinol (THC), with a total estimated market value of about $20 million. Two persons suspected to be connected with the cases were arrested.

     In the first case, through an in-depth investigation, Customs targeted a foreign man who was suspected of controlling a drug storage centre in Causeway Bay. Yesterday, Customs officers searched the subject premises and found about 33kg of suspected methamphetamine with an estimated market value of about $18 million. The man was immediately arrested at the scene. The arrested man, aged 41, who claimed to be a masseur, has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. He will appear at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (January 9).

     In the second case, through an in-depth investigation, Customs targeted a local man who was suspected of managing a drug manufacturing centre in Yuen Long. Customs officers intercepted him in Tai Po yesterday and seized about 1kg of suspected cocaine inside plastic bags carried by him. He was arrested and was brought to a premises in Yuen Long for a search. About 1.9kg of suspected "space oil drug", about 60g of suspected crack cocaine, 13 suspected "space oil drug" capsules, 41 vape sticks containing suspected THC and a batch of drug manufacturing and packaging paraphernalia, with an estimated total market value of about $2 million, were further seized. The arrested man, aged 37, claimed to be unemployed, has been charged with three counts of trafficking in a dangerous drug and one count of possession of Part 1 poison. He will appear at the Fanling Magistrates' Courts tomorrow.

     With the Chinese New Year holidays approaching, Customs believes that the local demand for drugs will increase. The department will therefore further step up enforcement action to rigorously combat different kinds of dangerous drug trafficking activities before the long holidays.

     Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment. Moreover, under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, any person who possesses any poison included in Part 1 of the Poisons List other than in accordance with provisions commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for two years.

     Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs' 24-hour report hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/).

    

     Thirty-eight persons in custody (PICs) at Stanley Prison of the Correctional Services Department (CSD) were presented with certificates at a ceremony today (January 8) in recognition of their continuous efforts in pursuing further studies.
      
     In 2024, a total of 158 PICs at Stanley Prison passed 179 papers with 64 distinctions and credits in various courses and public examinations, covering different subjects including language and literature, English for business, business finance and accounting organised by the Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU) and Caritas Institute of Community Education.
      
     The 38 PICs who were awarded certificates today passed 67 papers with 36 distinctions and credits. Among them, one PIC was awarded a Bachelor's Degree in General Studies, two were awarded Associate Degrees in General Studies, and one was awarded a Doctor of Education (EdD) degree by the HKMU. The doctorate awardee began the distance learning courses of the HKMU (formerly the Open University of Hong Kong) in 2004 and successfully attained the EdD degree after 20 years of hard work, becoming the first PIC to be awarded a doctorate by a local university. The doctoral degree was conferred on the PIC by the President of the HKMU, Professor Paul Lam, and the Dean of School of Education and Languages of the HKMU, Professor Andy Chin, at the ceremony.
      
     Officiating at the ceremony, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (TWGHs), Ms Mandy Tang, said that the CSD has been encouraging PICs to pursue continuing studies and has been collaborating with community members and non-governmental organisations to arrange a variety of rehabilitation programmes for PICs to assist them to turn over a new leaf and equip themselves for reintegration into society. The TWGHs set up the TWGHs Positive Life Education Fund in 2019, which runs for six years, to provide financial assistance to PICs for education and vocational training. She added that the TWGHs will further extend the subsidy scheme for five years to continuously support and collaborate with the CSD in actively promoting rehabilitation work, with a view to building a more stable and harmonious society in a collaborative way.
      
     During the ceremony, a duet performance was staged by PICs with Chinese musical instrument instructors Kong Kin-pan and Yeung Chun-hin, followed by a music performance delivered by a band composed of PICs at Stanley Prison onstage. Moreover, music instructor Eric Monson partnered with PICs to present an a cappella performance at the ceremony.
      
     In the sharing session, the doctorate awardee shared his experience during rehabilitation and conveyed gratitude to his family members for their unwavering support. He also recounted his years of academic pursuits with perseverance and unrelenting efforts, thanking correctional officers for their support and encouragement, as well as for providing resources and assistance throughout his learning journey, enabling him to complete the programme. He expressed hope that his personal experience could encourage PICs to strive for self-improvement and not to give up when facing difficulties. 
            
     Attending the ceremony were representatives of non-governmental and community organisations, community leaders and family members of the certificate recipients.
      
     Stanley Prison is a maximum security institution for the detention of male adult remand and convicted PICs.

            

     Following is a question by Reverend Canon the Hon Peter Douglas Koon and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, in the Legislative Council today (January 8):
 
Question:
 
     It has been reported that according to the information from the Dental Council of Hong Kong (DCHK), the dentist-to-population ratio in Hong Kong is relatively low, with an average of only about 3.7 dentists per ‍10 000 ‍citizens, lagging behind many developed countries and the Mainland. In addition, the results of the latest round of healthcare manpower projection conducted by the Hospital Authority indicate a manpower gap of 210, 180 and 120 dentists respectively in this year, 2030 and 2035, and the situation is worrying. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) as there are views pointing out that the serious wastage of government dentists is mainly attributed to the fact that the remuneration of government dentists is far inferior to that of private dentists, whether the Government will, by drawing reference from the situation in the private market, review the existing grade structure, remuneration package and progression pathway of government dentists, so as to attract and retain dental talents to serve in the Government; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
 
(2) as it is learnt that non-locally trained dentists are currently required to pass the Licensing Examination (LE) of DCHK before they can register and practise in Hong Kong, but the passing rate of LE is on the low side, whether the Government will review the existing assessment system for overseas dentists seeking to practise in Hong Kong, and suitably increase the frequency of LE or simplify LE, so as to allow more overseas-trained dentists to practise in Hong Kong, and to ensure that the relevant measures can truly increase the manpower supply of dentists; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
 
(3) given that in the reply to my question on the Estimates of Expenditure 2024-2025, the Secretary for Health has indicated that the Government cannot solely rely on increasing the number of local training places to address the imminent shortage of dentists, but there are views that in the long run, the Government should still adopt a multi-pronged approach to actively train up local dentists, whether the Government will allocate additional resources to motivate more institutions (including collaborating with institutions in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area) to offer dental degree courses, and continuously increase the number of places of the undergraduate programme in dentistry offered by the University of Hong Kong; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     The reply in response to the question raised by Reverend Canon the Hon Peter Douglas Koon is as follows:
 
(1) Dental staff employed by the Government are primarily engaged in providing dental benefits the Government is obliged as an employer to offer to civil servants/pensioners and their eligible dependents under the civil service terms of appointment, as well as school dental care services to students, free emergency dental services (generally referred to as General Public Sessions) to the public, and oral and maxillofacial surgery and specialist dental treatment to in-patients, patients with special oral care needs and patients with dental emergencies. In comparison, the private sector and non-governmental organisations mainly focus on personalised and comprehensive dental treatment to meet the individual needs of patients.
 
     The Department of Health (DH) has all along been taking measures to encourage dentists to join the Government by, for example, providing more opportunities for continuing education, specialist training and promotion, etc. The DH selects officers for promotion on the basis of their integrity, ability and experience as well as the qualifications prescribed for the promotion rank. The DH has also made use of the Post-retirement Service Contract Scheme to retain talents who wish to continue to serve the public. The nature of work of Government dentists is different from that of dentists in the private sector and their remuneration cannot be compared.
 
     The DH regularly organises talks and briefing sessions for graduating students of the Faculty of Dentistry of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) to introduce training and career opportunities of the post of Dental Officers (DOs) to attract more fresh graduates to apply for the post. In 2024, there were a total of 50 new recruits, 80 per cent of whom were fresh graduates. To attract more prospective candidates to apply for DOs, the DH has been launching year-round recruitment from 2021, granting incremental credits based on the work experience of candidates and exercising flexibility in the language proficiency requirement for appointment. Apart from civil service recruitment, the DH accepts applications for non-civil service contract positions throughout the year from persons with relevant professional qualifications, with a view to attracting a wider pool of suitable talents.
 
(2) At present, there are two ways for non-locally trained dentists to practise in Hong Kong:
 
(i) Non-locally trained dentists are allowed to register and practise in Hong Kong through the Licensing Examination (LE) organised by the Examination Committee of the Dental Council of Hong Kong (DCHK). Starting from 2015/16, the number of LE has been increased from once to twice per year. In the past five years, an average of 25 persons passed the examination each year. The DCHK reviews the examination policy from time to time, including the format and standard of the LE.
 
(ii) With effect from January 1, 2025, the Dentists Registration Ordinance (DRO) (Cap. 156) has introduced an additional mechanism for non-locally trained dentists to practise and register without taking examinations. Non-locally trained dentists selected for full-time employment by specified institutions including the DH, the Hospital Authority, the HKU and the Prince Philip Dental Hospital may submit applications for limited registration or special registration to the DCHK. Upon approval, they may work directly in the aforementioned specified institutions without sitting the LE. This arrangement will help meet the demand for local dental services.
 
(3) Regarding the training of local dentists, the Government has all along been keeping in view the service demand and manpower situation to timely adjust the strategy in ensuring the sufficient supply of dentists, including planning the number of training places on a regular basis according to manpower projections. The Government has increased the number of first-year-first-degree training places of the University Grants Committee-funded bachelor programme in dentistry on four occasions. The number increased from 50 per year in the 2009/10 academic year to 90 in the 2024/25 academic year, representing an increase of 80 per cent. However, lead time is required for training local dentists, and there are also practical constraints in expanding teaching manpower and facilities. As for the suggestion of launching new dentistry degree programmes, it involves major policy considerations and substantial resources and will not be able to address the shortage of dentists within a short period of time. Hence, the Government currently does not have such plans. It is impractical to rely solely on increasing the number of local training places to solve the problem of manpower shortage. Therefore, the Government has continuously adopted a multi-pronged approach to ensure sufficient manpower to support local public or subsidised dental care services.
 
     Under the premise that professional standards and patients' wellbeing are maintained, the Government provides different pathways for admitting qualified non-locally trained dentists. Apart from the LE organised all along by the DCHK, new pathways of limited registration and special registration have also been introduced. In particular, the DH has initiated the recruitment of non-locally trained dentists and received over 90 applications in total. Interviews have been completed now and initially more than 10 qualified non-locally trained dentists have been selected, and conditional offers are being issued gradually. They may join the DH upon completion of their applications to the DCHK and issuance of limited registration or special registration. The DH will closely liaise with the DCHK and strive to introduce the first batch of non-locally trained dentists to serve in Hong Kong in the first quarter of 2025.
 
     Furthermore, the Government set up the Working Group on Oral Health and Dental Care in December 2022 to review existing services and formulate strategies and recommendations for future development, and published the Final Report on December 6, 2024. The Report concluded that ancillary dental workers (to be retitled as dental care professionals (DenCPs) upon the relevant amendments to the DRO taking effect), comprising dental hygienists and dental therapists, could play a significant role in primary oral healthcare. Based on the risk-based principle and after consultation with the profession and relevant stakeholders, the amended DRO will suitably adjust the scope of practice of dental hygienists and dental therapists to enable them, upon training, to carry out certain lower-risk preventive dental care (e.g. oral examination, education, teeth cleaning and polishing, fluoride application) without the presence of a dentist, and perform scaling in accordance with the directions of a dentist who is present in the same premises. Dental therapists may also perform basic curative dental care (e.g. filling, extraction) in accordance with the directions of a dentist who is present in the same premises, enabling dentists to focus on more complex dental treatments. To strengthen the training for local DenCPs, the Government has increased the training places of dental hygienists and dental therapists to nearly double from 95 in the 2023/24 academic year to 185 in the 2024/25 academic year. The Government will gradually increase training places to expand the DenCPs workforce and enhance the overall capacity for oral health and dental care services.

     Following is a question by the Hon Edward Leung and a reply by the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, in the Legislative Council today (January 8):
 
Question:
 
     It is learnt that persons who have emigrated overseas can return to Hong Kong to enjoy some of the local welfare benefits, such as medical treatment, as long as they hold a valid Hong Kong identity card. There are views that such a practice will incur additional and unnecessary public expenditure and is not in the best interests of the local community. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) whether it has compiled statistics respectively on data relating to returning to Hong Kong for medical treatment and the additional public expenditure involved in the past three years;
 
(2) whether it will commence a study on the situation of returning to Hong Kong for medical treatment, so as to conduct a systematic analysis of and formulate response plans for the relevant phenomenon, e.g. restricting the use of subsidised public healthcare services by persons who have emigrated overseas; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
 
(3) given that at present only some welfare policies (e.g. Old Age Living Allowance) are subject to a limit of absence from Hong Kong, whether the authorities have considered, from the perspective of policy consistency, likewise imposing a limit of absence from Hong Kong on all welfare policies and subsidised public services, so as to prevent persons who have emigrated overseas from continuing to enjoy such welfare benefits and services; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     In consultation with the Labour and Welfare Bureau and the Hospital Authority (HA), the reply to the question raised by the Hon Edward Leung is as follows:
 
     Hong Kong is a pluralistic and open society. As an international city with the highest degree of globalisation in the country, Hong Kong enjoys close co-operation and exchanges with the Mainland and the rest of the world, bringing together talents of different backgrounds and nationalities in search of economic and study opportunities and more with free multi-directional mobility, thereby enhancing Hong Kong's competitiveness. To capitalise on Hong Kong's unique advantages and high mobility of the local population, the Government needs to take into account a number of complex factors in formulating social welfare measures and various public services, in conjunction with the nature and objectives of relevant services, demand patterns, demographic structure, cost-effectiveness and social equity, etc. As such, the modes of operation for different social welfare measures and public services, including the service scope, eligibility criteria and level of subsidy, may also vary so as to cater to different needs of the public. How to define the statuses of ordinarily residing in Hong Kong, emigrating overseas or returning to Hong Kong for residence so as to adjust or even restrict holders of valid Hong Kong Identity Card from enjoying local welfare and utilising public services is a complex issue that requires extensive discussion before a consensus can be reached.
 
     Hong Kong has a dual-track healthcare system with both public and private sectors. Public healthcare services are the cornerstone and public safety net of Hong Kong's healthcare system. As the core of the public service system, the HA provides healthcare services that are heavily subsided by the Government, with the current subsidy at over 97 per cent on average. Nearly 90 per cent of the Hong Kong's population relies on the services provided by the public healthcare system. Nevertheless, Hong Kong's recurrent expenditure on public healthcare only accounts for about 3.9 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product, and such percentage is relatively low among other developed economies with a similar demographic structure. In terms of efficiency, with an annual government subvention of some $90 billion, the HA is able to serve nearly 90 per cent majority of some 7.5 million people in Hong Kong and establish a healthcare safety net. This has made Hong Kong's healthcare system renowned for its high efficiency among medical and healthcare services in the world.

     As a major public healthcare service provider, the HA is committed to meeting the policy objectives of the Government, including ensuring that no eligible citizen is denied of appropriate healthcare services due to financial difficulty. The HA manages a total of 43 public hospitals and medical institutions as well as 49 Specialist Out-patient Clinics, offering services by seven hospital clusters to provide citizens with comprehensive secondary and tertiary healthcare services. Meanwhile, the HA also manages 74 General Out-patient Clinics, providing community-based primary healthcare services. In order to optimise the use of resources while enhancing the healthcare efficacy for the public, the HA, when conducting service planning, prioritises its services based on four priority areas, namely (1) acute and emergency care services; (2) diseases requiring advanced technology, multi-disciplinary collaboration and high medical costs for treatment; (3) services for low-income persons and disadvantaged groups; and (4) training of healthcare professionals.
 
     Any holder of a valid Hong Kong Identity Card and any child under 11 years of age who is a Hong Kong resident is regarded as an Eligible Person for subsidised public healthcare services. At present, there is no requirement for the users to reside in Hong Kong for a specified number of days. Therefore, the HA does not require patients who seek services at the HA to provide information on the number of days they have resided in or left Hong Kong when attending each consultation, hence cannot compile statistics relating to the so called "emigrants returning for medical treatment". In view of the sporadicity and urgency of healthcare services that make it impossible for approval of applications annually, the HA currently has no intention to require all holders of valid Hong Kong Identity Card to provide information on the number of days they have resided in Hong Kong for each medical consultation, and identify them as "emigrants returning for medical treatment" in a bid to restrict their use of the services.
 
     On social welfare, the Government puts in place requirements on age, means tests and permissible limits of absence from Hong Kong, etc, for different subsidised public services based on the different policy objectives and needs of recipient groups.
 
     As regards cash assistance, the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) Scheme and the Social Security Allowance (SSA) Scheme (including Old Age Allowance, Old Age Living Allowance and Disability Allowance) impose permissible limits of absence from Hong Kong before application and during receipt of payment, so as to ensure that recipients have close connections with Hong Kong.
 
     Before application, CSSA applicants must have been a Hong Kong resident for not less than one year, and must have resided in Hong Kong for at least one year since acquiring Hong Kong resident status. The one-year residence needs not be continuous or immediately before the date of application, with a 56-day absence limit. During receipt of payment, elderly persons or disabled recipients enjoy a limit of 180 days of absence from Hong Kong in a payment year, whereas other categories of recipients will enjoy a limit of 60 days of absence from Hong Kong in a payment year. Where a recipient resides in Hong Kong for less than the specified number of days in a payment year, i.e. 365 days less the permissible absence limit, his/her CSSA entitlement will be pro-rated on the basis of the number of days of residence in Hong Kong plus the permissible absence limit.

     SSA applicants must have resided in Hong Kong continuously for at least one year immediately before the date of application, with a limit of 90 days of absence from Hong Kong. During receipt of payment in Hong Kong, if a recipient resides in Hong Kong for not less than 60 days in a payment year, he/she is entitled to a full-year allowance. If he/she resides in Hong Kong for less than 60 days, he/she is only entitled to an allowance for the period of residence in Hong Kong.
 
     Users of social welfare services of the Social Welfare Department or subvented organisations generally receive the relevant services in Hong Kong. If service users do not receive service for a long period due to absence from Hong Kong, they will be required to withdraw from the relevant services.
 
     The Government will continue to keep in view social changes and review the provision of the existing social welfare measures and public services from time to time.