Interview with new HGC Chairman
Mrs Ann Kung

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▲ Mrs Ann Kung believes HKCH should further strengthen the hub-and-spoke model by concentrating related services and supporting other hospitals, so it can fully perform its function as a centre of excellence.

Mrs Ann Kung is an Advisor of the Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited. Over the years, she has held many public service positions including in the Hospital Authority Board and its committees. She joined the HKCH Hospital Governing Committee as a member upon its inception, and took up the role of chairman in April.

Dedication leads to excellence

Having served in HKCH since 2018, Mrs Kung is deeply impressed by its pioneering work, such as the first cross-boundary organ donation, gene therapy, and clinical genetics service. She said, "These are all built from the ground up, and all these accomplishments could not have happened without our colleagues' strong dedication and professionalism."

▲ Mrs Kung commends HKCH colleagues for their high caliber and devotion to patients, "Their shared passion enables them to break new grounds and do things that have never been done before."

Before assuming her new role, Mrs Kung took time to go over the Report on Review of Paediatric Services in Hospital Authority published in 2011, "It clearly stated the intention to set up a centre of excellence and implement a hub-and-spoke model to concentrate some services here, while other services would be managed by regional hospitals. This serves as our guidebook." She is pleased to see the HKCH actualizing the vision depicted in the report, but stressed the importance to step up the effort to complete the unfinished tasks in various specialties, "We already have the experience, ability and confidence to fulfil our designated role more effectively."

All these cannot be done without talents. Mrs Kung pointed out, "Despite its small population and low birth rate, Hong Kong is proud to have invested into children's health to live up to the name of an international city. We have to attract the cream of the crop to join HKCH, and build core strengths as a training centre. Enhancing exchange with international and Mainland counterparts is also essential to equip ourselves better to serve our city and country."

▲ Current members of HKCH Hospital Governing Committee: (front row, from left) Prof. Frances Wong, Prof. Lau Chak-sing, Dr Eric Cheung, Chairman Mrs Ann Kung, Dr Lee Tsz-leung, Prof. Fok Tai-fai, (back row, from left) Mr William Lo, Dr Ricky Chan, Ms Winnie Chiu, Mr Oscar Lee.

Donation support requires good governance and promotion

As for charity work, Mrs Kung believes the Hong Kong Children's Hospital Charitable Foundation can give the hospital additional resources and flexibility to fill gaps that are not covered by government subvention. For example, the Foundation has used donations to set up programmes to sponsor needy patients to acquire overseas lab tests and special diet, support doctors to conduct research on various diseases, and fund music and art activities to improve patients' wellbeing.

She shared, "Hong Kong people are very generous. We have many meaningful projects in the pipeline and we will work with the HA Head Office to ensure we have good governance, communications, and engagement to ensure donors understand how they can impact patients, the hospital, Hong Kong, and the country."