National Security | Lo Chung-mau: Medical and Health Sector Must Remain Highly Vigilant Against Soft Confrontation

The Secretary for Health, Lo Chung-mau, stated in an interview with Ta Kung Pao that Hong Kong’s healthcare sector has faced threats, with a few illegal elements attempting to destabilize society. The healthcare sector must establish awareness of national security risks and remain highly vigilant against “soft resistance” forces.

Lo Chung-mau emphasized that national security is the foundation of development, especially in the healthcare field. Once national security is threatened, it affects not only citizens’ physical health but also Hong Kong’s healthcare industry and innovative productivity, and even the stability of the entire country, potentially leading to unrest.

Some illegal elements have incited medical personnel to abandon their posts

He pointed out that Hong Kong’s healthcare sector has faced certain threats, with a few illegal individuals attempting to undermine medical professionalism and personnel, even inciting healthcare workers to abandon their posts, aiming to impact Hong Kong’s stability. From the illegal “Occupy Central” in 2014, the Hong Kong version of the “Color Revolution” in 2019, to the black violence incidents, he described these actions as “the continuation and spread of cancer,” damaging Hong Kong and even endangering national security.

Lo Chung-mau cited an example from December 2022, when a four-month-old girl named Zhi Xi urgently needed a heart transplant. With national support, the first cross-border organ donation was completed. However, some spread rumors to influence the registration of organ donation lists, attempting to tarnish the cooperation between China and Hong Kong’s medical sector. He emphasized that these “soft resistance” elements are still not dissuaded and reminded that while promoting healthcare development, this issue must be kept in mind.

Ensuring Hong Kong’s position as an international hub for medical innovation

Lo Chung-mau also mentioned the importance of educating healthcare professionals and improving Hong Kong’s medical standards to safeguard its status as an international hub for medical innovation. This would ensure preparedness in facing trade wars, tariff battles, and technological conflicts. On one hand, mechanisms should be established to respond to major public health and medical events, such as new infectious diseases, to protect people’s lives and health. On the other hand, in cooperation with the country’s biopharmaceutical and medical device R&D and approval systems, efforts should be made to gain dominance and influence internationally, breaking the monopoly of Western countries.