The Hong Kong Department of Health: Promoting the Construction of Hong Kong as an International Medical Innovation Hub and Continuously Advancing the Development of Clinical Trials.

Professor Lo Chung-Mau, Director of the Hong Kong Food and Health Bureau, chaired the fourth meeting of the Steering Committee on Medical Innovation Development today (August 5) to discuss strategies for Hong Kong to develop into an international hub for medical innovation and to continue promoting the development of clinical trials. Committee members also provided opinions on the future development of the International Clinical Trial Center in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. During the meeting, members heard reports from the trial center, the Hospital Authority, the Department of Health, the medical school, and the Food and Health Bureau on the latest progress of initiatives and measures supporting the advancement of clinical trials. Representatives from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology's medical school also participated in the meeting for the first time. Since its establishment in November 2024, the trial center has been steadily advancing several initiatives, including implementing a centralized contract processing mechanism for clinical trials in collaboration with the Hospital Authority and the clinical trial center at the University of Hong Kong, which standardizes relevant procedures across public hospitals and universities to expedite trial initiation. Additionally, in cooperation with Shenzhen, a "Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Clinical Trial Collaboration Platform" was established through the "One Institution, One Center" model, offering one-stop support for pharmaceutical research and development companies seeking clinical trial opportunities in the Greater Bay Area. The "Guidelines for Good Clinical Practice in Drug Trials" (ICH GCP E6(R3)) have also been implemented since June 30 this year, further aligning Hong Kong's clinical trials with international standards. Committee members recognized the direction of the relevant work and put forward constructive suggestions. Professor Lo Chung-Mau expressed, "I sincerely appreciate the insights provided by the members of the Steering Committee. The 'Policy Address' establishes the governments policy objective of developing Hong Kong into an international hub for medical innovation. The Food and Health Bureau will advance this goal through institutional innovation in tandem with technological innovation, deepening reforms in the healthcare system, and fully promoting Hong Kong's development as an international hub for medical innovation." He emphasized, "Clinical trials are a crucial foundation for medical innovation. Hong Kong possesses the institutional advantages of 'One Country, Two Systems', high-level medical professionals and technologies, as well as unique conditions that are highly aligned with international standards. We will utilize the trial center to coordinate clinical trial resources from both the public and private sectors, comprehensively enhance the capability and efficiency of clinical trials in Hong Kong, and collaborate with other cities in the Greater Bay Area to attract more local and overseas pharmaceutical and medical device companies to conduct research and clinical trials in Hong Kong, allowing patients to benefit early from the most advanced diagnostic and therapeutic technologies, achieving the goal of 'Good Drugs for Hong Kong, Research Benefits the Public', while also driving the development of an advanced biomedicine technology industry." The Steering Committee on Medical Innovation Development is chaired by the Director of the Hong Kong Food and Health Bureau, with members including representatives from relevant policy bureaus, government departments and agencies, as well as the medical school at the University of Hong Kong. The Steering Committee is responsible for coordinating and promoting relevant work on medical innovation to further implement the policy measures proposed in the "Policy Address" aimed at developing Hong Kong into an international hub for medical innovation.