Hong Kong trials cross-boundary ambulances scheme

The Government published in the Gazette on Friday the exemption of designated Shenzhen cross-boundary ambulances from the Road Traffic (Registration and Licensing of Vehicles) Regulations during a specified period, to facilitate the drill arrangement for the Pilot Scheme for Direct Cross-boundary Ambulance Transfer in the Greater Bay Area.

According to the government gazette, specified Shenzhen ambulances will be exempted from the regulations from August 23, 2024, to February 23, 2025, allowing it to drive between Shenzhen and two local hospitals - Tuen Mun Hospital and the Hong Kong Children’s Hospital.

It noted that the drivers must be recommended and accepted by the Health Bureau as being competent to provide patient transfer services, and travel back to Shenzhen on the same day of conducting the drill.

The specified ambulances and the approved drivers must also be covered by a valid policy of insurance in respect of third party risks pursuant to the Motor Vehicles Insurance (Third Party Risks) Ordinance during their time in the city.

The SAR government said the Pilot Scheme will first roll out the arrangement of direct ambulance transfers from designated hospitals in Shenzhen and Macao to designated public hospitals in Hong Kong.

Prior to the official launch of the Pilot Scheme, the SAR Government will conduct drills in collaboration with the Guangdong Provincial Government and the Shenzhen Municipal Government to trial the cross-boundary ambulance arrangement without patients on board. 

The governments of the two places will strive to finalize as soon as possible the long-term arrangement for designated Shenzhen cross-boundary ambulances to enter Hong Kong. Meanwhile, the HKSAR Government is also in discussion with the Macao SAR Government on relevant drill arrangement, a government statement wrote.

The SAR Government plans to launch the one-year Pilot Scheme within this year, with the announcement to be made in due course.

“Subject to the effectiveness and operational experience of the Pilot Scheme, relevant government departments will consider whether and how to expand the Scheme, such as including more designated hospitals and/or extending the Scheme to a two-way arrangement,” it added.