Hong Kong’s Department of Health reviewed more than 150,000 medical-related adverts and issued more than 1,600 warning letters over adverts suspected of breaching the medical-advertising ordinance between January 2023 and September 2026, the Secretary for Health said in a written reply to a legislator.
Nine warning letters concerned adverts promoting medical services outside Hong Kong. The Secretary said all adverts covered by the warnings had been removed. Adverts published in Hong Kong must comply with the ordinance whether they promote services provided locally or overseas.
For people considering treatment abroad, the Secretary advised checking local rules and understanding the treatment’s necessity and risks, follow-up arrangements and total cost. He also advised keeping medical records, receipts and consent forms.
The Consumer Council refers cross-border consumer complaints to relevant consumer-protection organisations. Its referral arrangement, set up through cooperation memorandums, covers Macau and more than 30 mainland provinces and cities.