8th January 2025 – (Hong Kong) A recent session of the Legislative Council, the Hon Edward Leung raised concerns about individuals who have emigrated overseas returning to Hong Kong to access local welfare benefits, including medical treatment, as long as they possess a valid Hong Kong identity card. Leung’s inquiry highlighted fears that such practices could lead to increased public expenditure and may not serve the best interests of the local community.
In response, Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, acknowledged the complexities surrounding this issue. He stipulated that Hong Kong’s open and pluralistic society, which thrives on global cooperation, necessitates careful consideration when formulating social welfare policies. The government’s approach aims to balance diverse public needs with cost-effectiveness and social equity. Currently, there are no residency requirements for individuals seeking subsidised public healthcare services, making it challenging to compile statistics on those who have returned solely for medical treatment.
Professor Lo further elaborated on the dual-track healthcare system in Hong Kong, indicating that while the Hospital Authority (HA) provides heavily subsidised services, it does not track the residency duration of patients. As for social welfare, different schemes, such as the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) and the Social Security Allowance (SSA), already impose absence limits to ensure recipients maintain a connection with Hong Kong.
The government has committed to monitoring changes in social dynamics and will continue to review existing welfare measures and public service provisions to address the evolving needs of the community.
