Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Toronto)

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.