The Health Bureau announced today (March 25) the soft launch of a new channel for the public to join the Chronic Disease Co-Care Pilot Scheme (CDCC Pilot Scheme) via direct enrolment at clinics of some participating family doctors starting today. The arrangement aims to encourage and provide more convenience for members of the public to initiate early health management so that they could be aware of their health situation if they are having, or may have a high-risk of having, diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension (HT). Apart from enrolling in the Scheme at District Health Centres (DHCs), eligible Hong Kong residents aged 45 or above may also register at some participating clinics to pair with a family doctor for screening.
 
     The CDCC Pilot Scheme has been well received since its rollout. As of March 21, various DHCs have assisted over 27 800 citizens to enrol in the Scheme, among which over half of the participants have completed screening arranged by their family doctors. Of those who have completed screening, more than 5 100 participants (equivalent to some 36 per cent of the participants who had completed screening) were diagnosed with prediabetes, DM or HT, and received further follow-up care and treatment by the participating family doctors for early identification and follow-up.
 
     To further promote the concept of "Family Doctor For All" and encourage the public to maintain a long-term doctor-patient relationship with their family doctors, a number of participating clinics are now open for direct enrolment to the Scheme, and participants can pair with a family doctor at the clinic. Upon searching the list of participating family doctors on the CDCC Pilot Scheme dedicated website, citizens may look for an indication of "Accept CDCC Pilot Scheme enrolment at clinic" next to the doctors’ names. Members of the public may contact the clinic of the corresponding family doctor with the aforementioned indication directly and make an arrangement to pair with the doctor at the clinic. The family doctor will then assist the participant to register for the DHC's membership simultaneously, and conduct a diagnosis, arrange laboratory investigations for him or her as well as give advice on the diagnosis afterwards. Participants who are diagnosed with prediabetes, DM or HT will be taken care of by their family doctor with long-term management under government subsidy. If the participants are prescribed drugs under basic tier of the CDCC Pilot Scheme Drug List, they will not be required to pay any additional drug fee.
 
     Participants who are not diagnosed with DM or HT after screening will be aided by the DHCs/DHC Expresses (DHCEs) to set health management goals. Arrangements will also be made as needed for them to join activities that can help them adopt a healthier lifestyle for staying in good shape.
 
     Among the 510-plus family doctors (at over 660 service points) participating in the Scheme, there are 96 family doctors (at 126 service points) that so far can offer direct matching services at their clinics. For eligible persons who wish to match with other family doctors, they may go to DHCs/DHCEs for matching and enrolment in the Scheme.
 
     The Government rolled out the CDCC Pilot Scheme under the Primary Healthcare Blueprint in mid-November last year, with a view to encouraging Hong Kong residents aged 45 or above with no known medical history of DM or HT to pair with a family doctor for screening, and long-term follow-up by family doctors if diagnosed with DM or HT with Government subsidy under a co-payment model. For more details, members of the public may browse the dedicated website of the CDCC Pilot Scheme (www.primaryhealthcare.gov.hk/cdcc/en), or call the hotline at 2157 0500. Dedicated staff of the hotline will answer calls from 9am to 9pm from Mondays to Saturdays.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Cheshire Home, Shatin, made the following announcement today (March 25):

     Three patients (aged 56 to 69) in a male infirmary ward had presented with symptoms of fever since March 21. Appropriate viral tests had been arranged for the patients and their test results were positive for Influenza A. The patients are being treated in isolation and are in stable condition.

     Infection control measures have already been stepped up according to established guidelines. All other patients in the ward concerned are under close surveillance.

     The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.

The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:

     Chief Justice Andrew Cheung Kui-nung, Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal, today (March 25) welcomed the acceptance by the Chief Executive of the recommendation of the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission on the appointment of the Honourable James Leslie Bain Allsop as a non-permanent judge from another common law jurisdiction of the Court of Final Appeal. The Chief Justice noted that the Government would be seeking the endorsement of the Legislative Council of the recommended appointment.

     The Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal Ordinance (Cap. 484) provides for a list of non-permanent Hong Kong judges and a list of judges from other common law jurisdictions. Currently, there are four non-permanent Hong Kong judges and nine non-permanent judges from other common law jurisdictions. The maximum number of non-permanent judges is 30. In hearing and determining an appeal, the Court of Final Appeal is constituted by five judges, i.e. the Chief Justice, three permanent judges and one non-permanent Hong Kong judge or one non-permanent judge from another common law jurisdiction. 

     The recommended appointment of Mr Allsop to the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal will increase the number of non-permanent judges from other common law jurisdictions from nine to 10. This will provide greater flexibility in dealing with the caseload of the Court of Final Appeal.

     The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, has accepted the recommendation of the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission (JORC) on the appointment of the Honourable James Leslie Bain Allsop as a non-permanent judge from another common law jurisdiction of the Court of Final Appeal. Subject to the endorsement of the Legislative Council, the Chief Executive will make the appointment under Article 88 of the Basic Law.

     Mr Lee said, "I am pleased to accept the JORC's recommendation on the appointment of Mr Allsop as a non-permanent judge from another common law jurisdiction of the Court of Final Appeal. Mr Allsop retired from the judicial office of Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Australia in April 2023. He is a judge of eminent standing and reputation. I am confident that he will greatly contribute to the Court of Final Appeal.

     "With the appointment of Mr Allsop, the panel of non-permanent judges from other common law jurisdictions will consist of 10 eminent judges from the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada. The presence of these esteemed jurists from overseas as non-permanent judges of the Court of Final Appeal manifests the exercise of judicial power independently by the Judiciary in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) as protected by the Basic Law. It also helps maintain a high degree of confidence in the HKSAR's judicial system, and enables Hong Kong to maintain strong links with other common law jurisdictions. I have every confidence that these distinguished jurists from overseas with profound judicial experience will continue to be a unique strength of the HKSAR's judicial system."

     Article 90 of the Basic Law provides that the Chief Executive shall obtain the endorsement of the Legislative Council on the appointment of judges of the Court of Final Appeal. The Government will seek the endorsement of the Legislative Council of the recommended appointment in due course.

     The curriculum vitae of Mr Allsop is at the Annex.

     The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, will depart for Hainan tomorrow evening (March 26) to attend the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2024.
           
     Mr Chan will return to Hong Kong on March 28. During Mr Chan's absence, the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, will be the Acting Chief Secretary for Administration.