The Health Bureau (HHB), Hong Kong government, has announced that after months of preparation with full effort since the Chief Executive put forward in the Policy Address last October the establishment of the Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Institute (GBAICTI) in the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone (i.e. the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park), the GBAICTI is anticipated to come into full operation in the fourth quarter of this year at the Central Government-Aided Emergency Hospital in the Hetao area upon completion of the construction of its temporary office and biobank therein.

The GBAICTI plans to move into one of the wet laboratory-enabled buildings, which is expected to complete construction later in the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park, with a view to enhancing Hong Kong's innovation and technology ecosystem in a proactive manner.

The HHB established the Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Institute Limited in the second quarter of this year and designated the LKS Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong through an open tender process in the third quarter to operate the GBAICTI. The Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Institute Limited is wholly owned by the Government to oversee the work of the operator and effectively supervise the operations of the GBAICTI.

The GBAICTI will serve as a one-stop clinical trial support platform to co-ordinate and integrate clinical trial resources in Hong Kong's public and private sectors, including universities, the Hospital Authority and private healthcare facilities, to give impetus to the development of clinical trials on all fronts. The GBAICTI in the Hong Kong Park and the Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Centre in the Shenzhen Park will join forces to synergise the development of clinical trials, drive co-operation among the clinical trial networks of the HKSAR and the Mainland (the GBA in particular), and at the same time co-ordinate clinical trial work of both places to comply with national and international standards.

The GBAICTI will formulate work plans on initiatives including talent training, optimisation of processes and collaboration in the GBA. Details will be announced in due course.