Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau participated in the 12th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) High-Level Meeting on Health & the Economy via video conferencing.

In the meeting held from August 25 to 26, Prof Lo discussed and exchanged views with leaders of other economies on issues at the nexus of health and the economy.

Under the theme “Open to Partnership. Connect with the World. Balance Health & the Economy”, senior health officials from various member economies shared their insights, visions and experience in addressing the various health challenges faced by the Asia-Pacific region, in particular the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the round-table discussion session, Prof Lo shared Hong Kong, China’s anti-pandemic strategy, noting that Chinese and Western medical practitioners jointly formulate treatment plans where appropriate.

“We also use COVID-19 vaccines of different technology platforms - inactivated virus from Mainland China and mRNA from the West. Indeed we must continue to search for ways to take our health system to the next level, in particular to adopt more innovative strategies.”

Pointing out that the city is blessed to have the ceaseless support from Mainland China in its fight against COVID-19, Prof Lo reaffirmed the city's continuous commitment in its close integration with the Mainland and maintaining collaboration with fellow APEC member economies, in order to strengthen pandemic preparedness to future health threats.