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Chu et al. J Transl Genet Genom 2022;6:290-303  https://dx.doi.org/10.20517/jtgg.2022.02    Page 11

               For historical reasons, Clinical Genetic Services of the Department of Health provides the majority of public
               diagnostic and counselling services to families with inherited genetic disorders. These services include
               diagnosis of genetic disorders, genetic screening, genetic counselling, and genetic testing in relation to
               disease management. Post-test clinical management and periodic screening have usually been taken up by
               Hospital Authority via its public hospitals’ infrastructure. Local academic researchers and scientists, usually
               with a job-induced passion, opportunities, and research/charitable fundings, have attained internationally
               recognised achievements in genomic research. As mentioned above, the majority of the patients access
               genetic services provided by the Department of Health or Hospital Authority in Hong Kong. Since only
               essential investigations are covered, advanced genomic tests such as genome sequencing are either sent to
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               overseas clinical laboratories with patient bearing the full cost or done in a research setting .

               Despite the hard work and contributions by various parties, the medical-academic-scientific fields in Hong
               Kong have identified enduring issues with the above set-up and workflow. The genomic services provided
               by the two medical schools are often research-based and lack the capacities to be used as routine clinical
               services. The Government acknowledged in the policy address of 2017 that there was an urgent need to
               explore a more standardised and better co-ordinated clinical pathway, invest in the training and nurturing
               of related professionals, and improve the overall management of genetic and genomic services in Hong
               Kong. A Steering Committee was thus formed to review the landscape of genetics and genomics in Hong
               Kong and map out the strategies for developing genomic medicine.

               Steering committee recommendations
               After reviewing the experiences of other national sequencing projects and deliberating the local
               environment, the Steering Committee published its report and proposed the eight recommendations to
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               promote local development and integration of genomics into our healthcare system .
               1. Launching the HKGP


               2. Enhancing clinical services in genetics and genomics

               3. Nurturing talents in genomic medicine


               4. Enhancing public engagement in genomic medicine


               5. Enhancing the laboratory network with effective referral mechanism and centralisation of advanced
               genetic and genomic tests


               6. Facilitating the establishment of a biobank network for genomic research

               7. Enhancing the regulation on use of genetic data for insurance and employment purposes


               8. Promoting the proper use of genetic and genomic tests


               THE LAUNCH OF HONG KONG GENOME PROJECT: PILOT PHASE
               Based on the recommendations from the Steering Committee, the Government set up the Hong Kong
               Genome Institute (HKGI), a company wholly owned by the Government, to implement the HKGP in
               partnership with the Food and Health Bureau, Department of Health, Hospital Authority, and local
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