DAB sets wheels in motion for cross-border ambulance

Cross-border ambulance service should be allowed so patients can be directly sent to Hong Kong from mainland hospitals and vice versa, the city's largest political party has proposed.

It was among 21 proposals raised by eight Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong members, who are delegates of the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, for the two sessions set for tomorrow and Saturday in Beijing.

The DAB suggested introducing a mechanism that allows mainland and Hong Kong ambulances directly transporting patients across the border, saving time on handing patients over at the border.

Tam Yiu-chung, Hong Kong's sole deputy to the NPC Standing Committee, said the idea can relieve the pressure of local ambulance service and also will lead to a more efficient and better ambulance service in the long run.

He said more people will live and work in the Greater Bay Area in the future and their demand for Hong Kong for treatment will increase.

"They can be in and out through designated border crossing points, with a special passageway to send them to hospital as quickly as possible," Tam said.

"Sometimes, with urgent cases, I think it's unsatisfactory to spend time on handing patients over."

Tam also said China and Hong Kong should have a discussion on technical issues like regulation of traffic and licensing problems.

Currently, Hong Kong residents can only transfer no more than 80,000 yuan (HK$98,995) to a mainland personal bank account under their own names.

The party proposed to connect Hong Kong's faster payment system with the mainland's online instant payment systems, in which Hongkongers can make fast yuan payments to mainland bank accounts held by other people.

The party also proposed to extend the usage of the home return permit for Hongkongers to enter the mainland so they can enjoy a more convenient life there. They suggested Hongkongers should be allowed to use the permit in more public services in the mainland, including banking services, making online hospital appointments, and to travel on high-speed rail without getting a physical train ticket, as well as other government services.

The party proposed to implement co-location arrangements at the Hong Kong International Airport, and build a museum for the history of China's resistance against Japanese aggression, as well as an exhibition hall for the Chinese Communist Party. They suggested making legislation of a complete ban on eating dogs and cats in China.

Tam said all 36 Hong Kong delegates of the NPC want to attend the two sessions but currently 10 of them confirmed that they would not be able to go, including himself, head of Hong Kong's delegation of NPC deputies Ma Fung-kwok, and Basic Law Committee deputy head Maria Tam Wai-chu, as they are close contacts of Covid patients.

sophie.hui@singtaonewscorp.com