Pregnancy
Maternity leave was extended from ten to fourteen weeks in 2020, with the additional four weeks reimbursed to employers by the government. Antenatal care is provided through maternal and child health centres and hospital clinics. Delivery in a public hospital costs a modest daily fee for eligible residents, but non-eligible persons face charges that run into tens of thousands.
Maternity leave rose from ten to fourteen weeks in 2020, with the government reimbursing employers for the additional four weeks. The larger issue for a binational couple is cost: public hospital delivery is heavily subsidised for Hong Kong residents and charged at a high non-eligible rate for everyone else, with an obligation to book a place in advance. Private delivery runs into six figures in local currency.
Key points
| Maternity leave | Fourteen weeks since 2020, extended from ten |
|---|---|
| Paternity leave | Five days |
| Antenatal care | Maternal and child health centres and hospital clinics |
| Public delivery | Modest daily fee for eligible residents |
| Non-eligible persons | Charges running into tens of thousands |
| Private care | Widely used, with package prices quoted in advance |
| Booking | Public hospital booking should be made early in the pregnancy |
In practice
- Book the public hospital place early: quotas apply and late booking is difficult.
- Confirm your eligibility status before choosing where to deliver — the difference is enormous.
- Maternal and child health centres provide free antenatal and postnatal care.
- Private package prices should be obtained in writing, including what happens if a caesarean is needed.
Cost and coverage
Public delivery is inexpensive for eligible residents and very costly for everyone else.
Recent changes
The extension of statutory maternity leave to fourteen weeks took effect in 2020, with a government reimbursement scheme for employers covering the additional four weeks.
Where to go
- Maternal and Child Health Centres of the Department of Health.
- Hospital Authority obstetric departments.
- Labour Department for maternity leave entitlements.
Worth knowing
Eligibility status is the single biggest financial variable here. Establish it in writing at the first appointment rather than at admission.
Frequently asked questions
How much does giving birth cost in Hong Kong?
For an eligible resident, a nominal daily charge in a public hospital. For a non-eligible person, a package rate in the tens of thousands of Hong Kong dollars, payable in advance with a booking certificate. Private hospitals commonly charge well above HK$100,000.
How long is maternity leave?
Fourteen weeks since 2020, at four-fifths of normal pay for employees who meet the continuous employment condition; the government reimburses employers for the additional four weeks. Paternity leave is five days.
The general article: Pregnancy · Compare with another country
Sex therapy
Hong Kong licenses doctors through the Medical Council but has no statutory registration for psychologists or counsellors; clinical psychologists appear on registers accredited under the government's voluntary scheme. “Sex therapist” is an unregulated term. The Hong Kong Association of Sexuality Educators, Researchers and Therapists (HKASERT) certifies sex therapists and sex educators after training and supervised practice, and is the local reference.
The Family Planning Association of Hong Kong offers a sexual-difficulty counselling and therapy service at subsidised fees, alongside its clinical services — the most accessible entry point for couples and individuals. Hospital Authority clinics in psychiatry, urology and gynaecology see patients by referral at the standard subsidised charges for eligible persons, with long waits for non-urgent conditions. Social welfare and family service centres offer counselling free of charge, though rarely specialised.
Privately, clinical psychologists, counsellors and doctors trained in sex therapy charge roughly 1,000 to 2,500 dollars a session. There is no public reimbursement of private therapy; some employer insurance plans include outpatient psychological consultations, according to the policy.
Training is mostly obtained overseas or through HKASERT's own programme; several practitioners hold AASECT or Australian sexology credentials.
Key points
| Title | Unregulated; psychologists on accredited voluntary registers |
|---|---|
| Regulated profession nearby | Doctors (Medical Council of Hong Kong) |
| Reference association | HKASERT: certified sex therapists and educators |
| Subsidised service | Family Planning Association sexual-difficulty counselling and therapy |
| Public hospitals | Psychiatry, urology, gynaecology by referral, subsidised, long waits |
| Private cost | About 1,000–2,500 dollars a session |
In practice
- Start with the Family Planning Association if cost or discretion matters: it is subsidised and specialised.
- Check HKASERT certification and, for psychologists, the accredited register.
- Ask a general practitioner or a public general outpatient clinic for referral to Hospital Authority specialists when a medical cause is suspected.
- Check employer insurance for outpatient psychological benefits.
Cost and reimbursement
Family Planning Association: subsidised fees. Hospital Authority: standard subsidised charges by referral. Private: 1,000–2,500 dollars a session, out of pocket unless insurance applies.
What has changed recently
The government's accredited-register scheme for healthcare professions has extended to clinical psychologists, without making registration compulsory. No change is planned for sex therapy.
Where to go
- Family Planning Association of Hong Kong: sexual-difficulty counselling and therapy.
- HKASERT: certified sex therapists.
- Hospital Authority specialist outpatient clinics by referral.
- Medical Council of Hong Kong: register of doctors.
Worth knowing
Advertising for sex therapy is unregulated; treat guaranteed results and product sales as warnings. The Family Planning Association and HKASERT certification are the reliable markers.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a regulated sex therapist in Hong Kong?
No. Doctors are licensed; psychologists sit on voluntary accredited registers; HKASERT certifies sex therapists privately.
Is there an affordable service?
Yes, the Family Planning Association's sexual-difficulty service at subsidised fees, and Hospital Authority clinics by referral.
Does insurance pay?
Not the public system. Some employer plans include outpatient psychological consultations; check the policy.
Sources
- Family Planning Association of Hong Kong — sexual-difficulty counselling and therapy service
- Medical Council of Hong Kong — register of doctors
The general article: Sex therapy · Compare with another country
Mental health
Public psychiatric care at low cost, a dedicated support hotline, and long waits for non-urgent cases.
Hospital authority psychiatric services provide specialist care at low public fees, reached through a general outpatient clinic or accident and emergency. Waits for stable, non-urgent cases are long, while urgent cases are seen quickly through a triage system. A government mental health support hotline provides round-the-clock advice and referral. Non-governmental organisations run integrated community centres across the territory.
Public psychiatric care in Hong Kong is cheap for eligible residents — a nominal fee per specialist visit — and of good clinical quality, but the waiting time for a non-urgent first appointment runs to many months. Urgent cases are seen quickly. The government funds a dedicated support hotline and has expanded school-based and community programmes after a period of sustained pressure on young people's mental health.
Key points
| Public fees | Low for residents; specialist care through the hospital authority |
|---|---|
| Triage | Urgent cases seen within days; stable cases wait months |
| Support hotline | Government line providing round-the-clock advice and referral |
| Community centres | Integrated centres run by non-governmental organisations in every district |
| Private | Fast and expensive; some insurance policies cover it |
| Compulsory admission | Governed by the Mental Health Ordinance |
| Students | School and university counselling services widely available |
In practice
- Ask for the triage category: urgent cases are seen far faster than the headline waiting time suggests.
- Integrated community centres accept walk-ins and provide free social work support.
- The government support hotline answers round the clock and can arrange a referral.
- Public specialist fees are low, but the first appointment may be months away for stable cases.
Cost and coverage
Public specialist fees are low for residents; private care is charged in full.
Where to go
- Hospital authority psychiatric outpatient clinics.
- Government mental health support hotline.
- Integrated community centres for mental wellness.
Worth knowing
The triage system is the key to the waiting list. If your condition worsens while you wait, contact the clinic and say so: the category can be changed.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the wait for a psychiatrist?
Urgent cases are seen within days and semi-urgent within weeks; stable, non-urgent referrals commonly wait many months in the public system. Private psychiatry is available at several hundred to over a thousand Hong Kong dollars a session, which is why many people use it for the first appointment and then transfer.
Where can you get help immediately?
The government-funded 24-hour mental health support hotline, and the long-established charity crisis lines, all free and confidential. Hospital emergency departments handle acute presentations, and the psychiatric emergency service operates around the clock.
The general article: Mental health · Compare with another country
Dental care
Public dental care is limited to emergency pain relief, and that is the whole story for most adults.
Government dental clinics provide emergency services — relief of pain and extraction — to the general public on limited session days. Comprehensive public dental care is available only to civil servants and their dependants, and to certain groups such as residents of homes for the elderly through outreach programmes. School dental care covers primary school children. Everything else is private.
The queues for the general public emergency sessions are famously long, with people lining up before dawn for a limited number of tickets.
The Community Care Fund elderly dental assistance programme funds dentures and related treatment for eligible older people.
The Faculty of Dentistry of the University of Hong Kong, in Sai Ying Pun, treats patients at reduced fees and is the main low-cost route for complex work.
Private fees are high; travel to Shenzhen and Guangzhou for dental work is very common and well organised.
Key points
| Government clinics | Emergency pain relief and extraction, limited sessions |
|---|---|
| Comprehensive public care | Civil servants and dependants only |
| School dental care | Primary school children |
| Elderly | Community Care Fund dental assistance for eligible older people |
| Private | High fees; cross-border treatment in Shenzhen is common |
In practice
- The university dental hospital is the main affordable route for anything beyond an extraction.
- Check eligibility for the elderly dental assistance programme for older family members: it covers dentures.
- If travelling to the mainland for treatment, keep all records and radiographs and plan the follow-up.
Cost and coverage
Government emergency session HK$100–HK$200. Private examination HK$400–HK$900. Crown HK$6,000–HK$12,000. Implant with crown HK$15,000–HK$30,000.
Recent changes
Proposals to widen public dental services beyond emergency care have been under discussion, with pilot schemes for specific groups.
Where to go
- Government dental clinics, general public sessions.
- Prince Philip Dental Hospital, University of Hong Kong.
- Community Care Fund elderly dental assistance programme.
- Dental Council of Hong Kong register.
Worth knowing
Bringing CBD-containing oral products into Hong Kong is a separate legal problem: CBD has been a dangerous drug there since 2023, and that includes toothpastes and mouthwashes containing it.
Frequently asked questions
Is there free dental care?
Only emergency pain relief through limited government sessions, plus school dental care for primary pupils.
Where can I get affordable treatment?
The university dental hospital, or across the border, with the follow-up planned.
The general article: Dental care · Compare with another country
HIV and AIDS
Free treatment for eligible residents, anonymous testing, and PrEP that is mostly self-funded.
Public services provide antiretroviral treatment free of charge to eligible residents through specialist clinics. Anonymous testing is available through government and community services, and self-tests are sold. PrEP is available but generally paid for privately, although community programmes have improved access.
Hong Kong provides HIV treatment through designated public clinics at low cost for eligible residents, and anonymous testing is available through the Department of Health and community organisations. PrEP is available but is not publicly funded, so it is paid for privately or obtained through community programmes at reduced cost.
Key points
| Treatment | Free for eligible residents through specialist public clinics |
|---|---|
| Testing | Anonymous testing available at government and community services |
| Self-tests | Sold through pharmacies and community organisations |
| PrEP | Available, mostly self-funded; community programmes reduce the cost |
| PEP | Through hospital accident and emergency departments |
| Eligibility | Non-residents pay substantially more for treatment |
| Confidentiality | Protected; anonymous services exist precisely for this reason |
In practice
- Use the anonymous testing services if confidentiality is a concern.
- Check eligibility rules before assuming treatment is free: non-residents face very different charges.
- Community organisations can arrange affordable PrEP.
- For PEP, attend a hospital emergency department immediately.
Cost and coverage
Free for eligible residents; PrEP is usually self-funded, with community schemes reducing the price.
Where to go
- Integrated Treatment Centre and specialist clinics.
- Red Ribbon Centre and community organisations.
- AIDS Concern and other NGOs for testing and PrEP support.
Worth knowing
Eligibility status determines the cost of treatment almost entirely. If your residence status is uncertain, get advice from a community organisation before starting care privately.
Frequently asked questions
Is PrEP funded in Hong Kong?
Not through the public system. It is available privately and through community organisations that offer it at reduced cost with monitoring. Treatment for people diagnosed with HIV, by contrast, is provided through designated public clinics at the standard low fee for residents.
Hepatitis B
Universal infant vaccination since 1988, which transformed a formerly high prevalence.
Hong Kong had one of the higher prevalences in the world before introducing universal infant vaccination in 1988. Among people born since, prevalence has fallen to very low levels, while older cohorts still carry a substantial burden. Antenatal screening is universal and chronic carriers are monitored in specialist clinics.
Hong Kong introduced universal neonatal hepatitis B vaccination in 1988, and chronic infection among people born since then is rare, while prevalence among older cohorts remains meaningful. Antenatal screening is universal, and infants of positive mothers receive immunoglobulin as well as the vaccine, with follow-up testing.
Key points
| Infant vaccination | Universal since 1988, with a birth dose |
|---|---|
| Older cohorts | Substantial prevalence among people born before the programme |
| Antenatal screening | Universal |
| Babies of carriers | Vaccine and immunoglobulin at birth |
| Testing | Available through public and private services |
| Treatment | Provided through public specialist clinics |
| Monitoring | Liver cancer surveillance for chronic carriers |
In practice
- If you were born before 1988, ask for testing: that cohort was not vaccinated.
- Chronic carriers should have ultrasound surveillance twice a year.
- Ask for all three serological markers in one request.
Cost and coverage
Testing and treatment are heavily subsidised in the public system.
Where to go
- Department of Health clinics and hospital specialist services.
- Maternal and child health centres.
- Hepatitis patient support organisations.
Worth knowing
The transformation of prevalence between pre-1988 and post-1988 cohorts is one of the clearest demonstrations anywhere of what infant vaccination achieves.
Frequently asked questions
Who should be tested in Hong Kong?
Anyone born before 1988, anyone with a family history, and anyone from a high-prevalence area. Testing is available through the Department of Health, private clinics and community programmes, and identifies people who can benefit from monitoring or treatment.
HPV
A free school programme for girls since 2019, and screening every three or five years depending on the test.
Hong Kong introduced free HPV vaccination for primary school girls in 2019 through the childhood immunisation programme. Cervical screening is recommended for women aged 25 to 64 who have ever had sex, with an interval that depends on whether cytology or HPV testing is used.
Hong Kong provides free HPV vaccination to girls through the school immunisation programme, and subsidises cervical screening through a government scheme with participating private doctors. Screening now uses HPV testing as the primary method for women aged thirty and above, with longer intervals between tests.
Key points
| School programme | Free for primary school girls since 2019 |
|---|---|
| Boys | Not included in the public programme; available privately |
| Screening | Recommended from 25 to 64 for anyone who has had sex |
| Interval | Three years with cytology, five years with HPV testing |
| Providers | Government clinics, NGOs and private practice |
| Cost | Government and NGO screening is low cost; private is considerably higher |
| Register | A cervical screening information system holds records and reminders |
In practice
- Use a government or NGO clinic for screening: the cost difference with private practice is large.
- Ask for HPV testing if you prefer a longer interval.
- Boys are not covered by the public programme — vaccination is a private decision.
Cost and coverage
The school programme is free; government and NGO screening is low cost.
Where to go
- Department of Health maternal and child health centres and woman health centres.
- Family Planning Association clinics.
- School health service for the vaccination programme.
Worth knowing
The public programme covers girls only. Parents who want a son vaccinated should expect to pay privately and plan for it.
Frequently asked questions
Are boys vaccinated in Hong Kong?
The government school programme covers girls; boys are not included, though the vaccine is available privately. Professional bodies have argued for extension, and the cost privately runs to several thousand Hong Kong dollars for the full course.
General sources
- GovHK — official government portal