Medical waiver issued to non-refoulement claimants
Dear Hospital Authority,
please can you provide a 2014 - Q2 2020 yearly breakdown on the statistics for:
(1) medical waiver issued to non-refoulement claimants
(2) medical waiver issued to non-refoulement claimants under 18
Yours faithfully,
Carissa Tsang
This is to acknowledge receipt of your e-mail message.
(The above is generated by an auto-reply programme)
Hospital Authority ([1]www.ha.org.hk)
=====================================
謝謝閣下的電子郵件。
（以上為電腦自動發出的訊息）
醫院管理局 ([2]www.ha.org.hk)
=====================================
谢谢阁下的电子邮件。
（以上为电脑自动发出的讯息）
医院管理局 ([3]www.ha.org.hk)
________________________________
References
Visible links
1. file:///tmp/www.ha.org.hk
2. file:///tmp/www.ha.org.hk
3. file:///tmp/www.ha.org.hk
Dear Ms Tsang,
Thank you for your Application for Access to Information dated 8 September
2020.
As the processing of your request involves consultation with the
department concerned, we are unable to provide you with the information
sought at this stage. You will be advised further in relation to your
request on or before 28 September 2020.
Should you have any questions in the meantime, please do not hesitate to
contact me.
Yours sincerely,
Sandy Chu(Miss)
Access to Information Officer
Hospital Authority Head Office
(Tel.: 2300 6568/2300 6555)
Dear Ms Tsang,
Further to my reply dated 15 September 2020, as the department concerned
is still processing your request, you will be advised further in relation
to your request on or before 12 October 2020.
Should you have any questions in the meantime, please do not hesitate to
contact me.
Yours sincerely,
Sandy Chu(Miss)
Access to Information Officer
Hospital Authority Head Office
(Tel.: 2300 6568/2300 6555)
From: [1][Hospital Authority request email]
Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2020 6:13 PM
To: '[FOI #501 email]'
<[2][FOI #501 email]>
Subject: Application for Access to Information (Carissa Tsang) Freedom of
Information request - Medical waiver issued to non-refoulement claimants
Dear Ms Tsang,
Thank you for your Application for Access to Information dated 8 September
2020.
As the processing of your request involves consultation with the
department concerned, we are unable to provide you with the information
sought at this stage. You will be advised further in relation to your
request on or before 28 September 2020.
Should you have any questions in the meantime, please do not hesitate to
contact me.
Yours sincerely,
Sandy Chu(Miss)
Access to Information Officer
Hospital Authority Head Office
(Tel.: 2300 6568/2300 6555)
Dear Ms Tsang,
I refer to my reply dated 28 September 2020.
As the department concerned is still processing your request, you will be
advised further in relation to your request on or before 19 October 2020.
Should you have any questions in the meantime, please do not hesitate to
contact me.
Yours sincerely,
Sandy Chu(Miss)
Access to Information Officer
Hospital Authority Head Office
(Tel.: 2300 6568/2300 6555)
From: [1][Hospital Authority request email]
Sent: Monday, September 28, 2020 7:00 PM
To: '[FOI #501 email]'
<[2][FOI #501 email]>
Subject: Application for Access to Information (Carissa Tsang) Freedom of
Information request - Medical waiver issued to non-refoulement claimants
Dear Ms Tsang,
Further to my reply dated 15 September 2020, as the department concerned
is still processing your request, you will be advised further in relation
to your request on or before 12 October 2020.
Should you have any questions in the meantime, please do not hesitate to
contact me.
Yours sincerely,
Sandy Chu(Miss)
Access to Information Officer
Hospital Authority Head Office
(Tel.: 2300 6568/2300 6555)
From: [3][Hospital Authority request email]
Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2020 6:13 PM
To: '[FOI #501 email]'
<[4][FOI #501 email]>
Subject: Application for Access to Information (Carissa Tsang) Freedom of
Information request - Medical waiver issued to non-refoulement claimants
Dear Ms Tsang,
Thank you for your Application for Access to Information dated 8 September
2020.
As the processing of your request involves consultation with the
department concerned, we are unable to provide you with the information
sought at this stage. You will be advised further in relation to your
request on or before 28 September 2020.
Should you have any questions in the meantime, please do not hesitate to
contact me.
Yours sincerely,
Sandy Chu(Miss)
Access to Information Officer
Hospital Authority Head Office
(Tel.: 2300 6568/2300 6555)
Dear Ms Tsang,
Further to my reply dated 12 October 2020, please find below the Hospital
Authority (HA) Head Office’s response to the items you requested:
Item 1
The available statistics about “medical waiver issued to non-refoulement
claimants” for financial years 2014/15 to 2019/20 are provided as below
for your reference. The HA does not compile such data on a quarterly
basis.
Financial 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20
Year
Number of 1,079 1,501 1,870 2,070 2,126 1,878
inpatient
cases
granted
with
medical fee
waivers
Number of 12,267 16,126 18,000 18,528 16,835 15,747
outpatient
attendances
granted
with
medical fee
waivers
Item 2
Waiver information is provided as a whole and not by age group. Hence, the
information you requested about the under 18 age group is not available.
According to paragraph 1.14 of the Code on Access to Information, the
Code does not oblige departments to create a record which does not exist.
If you have any questions about this reply, please do not hesitate to
contact me.
Yours sincerely,
Sandy Chu(Miss)
Access to Information Officer
Hospital Authority Head Office
(Tel.: 2300 6568/2300 6555)
From: [1][Hospital Authority request email] <[2][Hospital Authority request email]>
Sent: Monday, October 12, 2020 6:28 PM
To: '[FOI #501 email]'
<[3][FOI #501 email]>
Subject: Application for Access to Information (Carissa Tsang) Freedom of
Information request - Medical waiver issued to non-refoulement claimants
Dear Ms Tsang,
I refer to my reply dated 28 September 2020.
As the department concerned is still processing your request, you will be
advised further in relation to your request on or before 19 October 2020.
Should you have any questions in the meantime, please do not hesitate to
contact me.
Yours sincerely,
Sandy Chu(Miss)
Access to Information Officer
Hospital Authority Head Office
(Tel.: 2300 6568/2300 6555)
From: [4][Hospital Authority request email]
Sent: Monday, September 28, 2020 7:00 PM
To: '[FOI #501 email]'
<[5][FOI #501 email]>
Subject: Application for Access to Information (Carissa Tsang) Freedom of
Information request - Medical waiver issued to non-refoulement claimants
Dear Ms Tsang,
Further to my reply dated 15 September 2020, as the department concerned
is still processing your request, you will be advised further in relation
to your request on or before 12 October 2020.
Should you have any questions in the meantime, please do not hesitate to
contact me.
Yours sincerely,
Sandy Chu(Miss)
Access to Information Officer
Hospital Authority Head Office
(Tel.: 2300 6568/2300 6555)
From: [6][Hospital Authority request email]
Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2020 6:13 PM
To: '[FOI #501 email]'
<[7][FOI #501 email]>
Subject: Application for Access to Information (Carissa Tsang) Freedom of
Information request - Medical waiver issued to non-refoulement claimants
Dear Ms Tsang,
Thank you for your Application for Access to Information dated 8 September
2020.
As the processing of your request involves consultation with the
department concerned, we are unable to provide you with the information
sought at this stage. You will be advised further in relation to your
request on or before 28 September 2020.
Should you have any questions in the meantime, please do not hesitate to
contact me.
Yours sincerely,
Sandy Chu(Miss)
Access to Information Officer
Hospital Authority Head Office
(Tel.: 2300 6568/2300 6555)
Dear Enquiry (Hospital Authority),
Thank you for your response.
Could you also please kindly provide the following data:
(1) the number of applications for medical waiver by non-refoulement claimants received from 2014 to 2020
(2) the number of applications for medical waiver by non-refoulement claimants allowed from 2014 to 2020
(3) the number of applications for medical waiver by non-refoulement claimants rejected from 2014 - 2020
Yours sincerely,
Carissa Tsang
This is to acknowledge receipt of your e-mail message.
(The above is generated by an auto-reply programme)
Hospital Authority ([1]www.ha.org.hk)
=====================================
謝謝閣下的電子郵件。
（以上為電腦自動發出的訊息）
醫院管理局 ([2]www.ha.org.hk)
=====================================
谢谢阁下的电子邮件。
（以上为电脑自动发出的讯息）
医院管理局 ([3]www.ha.org.hk)
________________________________
References
Visible links
1. file:///tmp/www.ha.org.hk
2. file:///tmp/www.ha.org.hk
3. file:///tmp/www.ha.org.hk
Dear Ms Tsang,
Thank you for your Application for Access to Information dated 27 October
2020.
As the processing of your request involves consultation with the
department concerned, we are unable to provide you with the information
sought at this stage. You will be advised further in relation to your
request on or before 16 November 2020.
Should you have any questions in the meantime, please do not hesitate to
contact me.
Yours sincerely,
Sandy Chu(Miss)
Access to Information Officer
Hospital Authority Head Office
(Tel.: 2300 6568/2300 6555)
Dear Ms Tsang,
Further to my reply dated 5 November 2020, please find below the Hospital
Authority (HA) Head Office’s response to the items you requested:
Item 1
The number of applications for medical waiver by non-refoulement claimants
received from 2014 to 2020 is not available as the HA does not compile
such data. According to paragraph 1.14 of the Code on Access to
Information, the Code does not oblige departments to create a record which
does not exist.
Items 2 and 3
The available statistics for financial years 2014/15 to 2019/20 are
provided below for your reference.
Financial Year 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20
Number of 16,138 21,157 24,110 24,679 22,572 21,507
applications
for medical
waiver by
non-refoulement
claimants
approved
Number of 2 10 4 2 5 1
applications
for medical
waiver by
non-refoulement
claimants
rejected
If you have any questions about this reply, please do not hesitate to
contact me.
Yours sincerely,
Sandy Chu(Miss)
Access to Information Officer
Hospital Authority Head Office
(Tel.: 2300 6568/2300 6555)
From: [1][Hospital Authority request email]
Sent: Thursday, November 5, 2020 10:56 AM
To: '[FOI #501 email]'
<[2][FOI #501 email]>
Subject: Application for Access to Information dated 27 October 2020
(Carissa Tsang) Freedom of Information request - Medical waiver issued to
non-refoulement claimants
Dear Ms Tsang,
Thank you for your Application for Access to Information dated 27 October
2020.
As the processing of your request involves consultation with the
department concerned, we are unable to provide you with the information
sought at this stage. You will be advised further in relation to your
request on or before 16 November 2020.
Should you have any questions in the meantime, please do not hesitate to
contact me.
Yours sincerely,
Sandy Chu(Miss)
Access to Information Officer
Hospital Authority Head Office
(Tel.: 2300 6568/2300 6555)
Dear Enquiry (Hospital Authority),
Thank you for the information. Could you kindly attach your reply in a PDF format please? The table is not shown properly on accessinfo
Yours sincerely,
Carissa Tsang
This is to acknowledge receipt of your e-mail message.
(The above is generated by an auto-reply programme)
Hospital Authority ([1]www.ha.org.hk)
=====================================
謝謝閣下的電子郵件。
（以上為電腦自動發出的訊息）
醫院管理局 ([2]www.ha.org.hk)
=====================================
谢谢阁下的电子邮件。
（以上为电脑自动发出的讯息）
医院管理局 ([3]www.ha.org.hk)
________________________________
References
Visible links
1. file:///tmp/www.ha.org.hk
2. file:///tmp/www.ha.org.hk
3. file:///tmp/www.ha.org.hk
Dear Ms Tsang,
Thank you for your email.
Please find attached the Hospital Authority Head Office’s reply in the PDF
format.
Yours sincerely,
Joey Lai
for Access to Information Officer
Hospital Authority Head Office
(Tel.: 2300 6836/2300 6555)
Dear Enquiry (Hospital Authority),
Thank you for your information.
Can you please also provide the following information:
How many Small Claims Tribunal applications are made in relation to unpaid medical bills by non-refoulement protection claimants? Please provide a yearly breakdown from 2014 - 2020.
Yours sincerely,
Carissa Tsang
This is to acknowledge receipt of your e-mail message.
(The above is generated by an auto-reply programme)
Hospital Authority ([1]www.ha.org.hk)
=====================================
謝謝閣下的電子郵件。
（以上為電腦自動發出的訊息）
醫院管理局 ([2]www.ha.org.hk)
=====================================
谢谢阁下的电子邮件。
（以上为电脑自动发出的讯息）
医院管理局 ([3]www.ha.org.hk)
________________________________
References
Visible links
1. file:///tmp/www.ha.org.hk
2. file:///tmp/www.ha.org.hk
3. file:///tmp/www.ha.org.hk
Dear Ms Tsang,
Thank you for your Application for Access to Information dated 19 November
2020.
As the processing of your request involves consultation with the
department concerned, we are unable to provide you with the information
sought at this stage. You will be advised further in relation to your
request on or before 9 December 2020.
Should you have any questions in the meantime, please do not hesitate to
contact me.
Yours sincerely,
Sandy Chu(Miss)
Access to Information Officer
Hospital Authority Head Office
(Tel.: 2300 6568/2300 6555)
Dear Ms Tsang,
Further to my reply dated 27 November 2020, please find below the Hospital
Authority (HA) Head Office’s response to the item you requested:
As non-refoulement claimants are non-residents of Hong Kong, they are
charged at rates of Non-eligible Persons for using medical services in the
public hospitals and clinics. Those non-refoulement claimants who have
difficulty paying the charges for medical services at public hospitals and
clinics could approach the Medical Social Workers (MSWs) at the HA or
Social Workers (SWs) of Integrated Family Service Centres or Family and
Child Protective Services Units (for their known cases only) of the Social
Welfare Department for medical fee waiving applications. The MSWs/SWs
would then assess the applicants’ financial and social condition on a
case-by-case basis and, if considered appropriate, grant an one-off
waiver.
For outstanding medical fees, the HA has established policy and procedures
governing the management and recovery of fees owed to the HA. Legal
actions to recover outstanding bills may be taken as appropriate.
The statistics on claims filed with the Small Claims Tribunal by the HA to
recover unpaid bills by non-refoulement claimants for the financial years
from 2014/15 to 2019/20 are provided below:
Financial 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20
Year
Number of 463 666 689 717 437 373
patients
involved
in claims
filed
with the
Small
Claims
Tribunal
by the HA
If you have any questions about this reply, please do not hesitate to
contact me.
Yours sincerely,
Sandy Chu(Miss)
Access to Information Officer
Hospital Authority Head Office
(Tel.: 2300 6568/2300 6555)
From: [1][Hospital Authority request email]
Sent: Friday, November 27, 2020 7:32 PM
To: '[FOI #501 email]'
<[2][FOI #501 email]>
Subject: Application for Access to Information dated 19 November 2020
(Carissa Tsang) Freedom of Information request - Medical waiver issued to
non-refoulement claimants
Dear Ms Tsang,
Thank you for your Application for Access to Information dated 19 November
2020.
As the processing of your request involves consultation with the
department concerned, we are unable to provide you with the information
sought at this stage. You will be advised further in relation to your
request on or before 9 December 2020.
Should you have any questions in the meantime, please do not hesitate to
contact me.
Yours sincerely,
Sandy Chu(Miss)
Access to Information Officer
Hospital Authority Head Office
(Tel.: 2300 6568/2300 6555)
Dear Enquiry (Hospital Authority),
Thank you for your information.
I would like to follow up on your response.
Of the number of claims filed with the Small Claims Tribunal by the HA to recover unpaid bills by non-refoulement claimants, provided by your previous reply,
(1) Are the bills settled? If so, how? Please also provide the number of bills settled from 2014 - 2020
(2) Was a medical fee waiver issued subsequent to the Small Claims Tribunal proceedings? If so, please provide relevant statistics from 2014 - 2020
(3) Please provide the number of judgements against the HA from 2014 - 2020
Thank you very much.
Yours sincerely,
Carissa Tsang
This is to acknowledge receipt of your e-mail message.
(The above is generated by an auto-reply programme)
Hospital Authority ([1]www.ha.org.hk)
=====================================
謝謝閣下的電子郵件。
（以上為電腦自動發出的訊息）
醫院管理局 ([2]www.ha.org.hk)
=====================================
谢谢阁下的电子邮件。
（以上为电脑自动发出的讯息）
医院管理局 ([3]www.ha.org.hk)
________________________________
References
Visible links
1. file:///tmp/www.ha.org.hk
2. file:///tmp/www.ha.org.hk
3. file:///tmp/www.ha.org.hk
Dear Ms Tsang,
Thank you for your Application for Access to Information dated 7 December
2020.
The processing of your request involves consultation with the department
concerned. Regarding item (3) in your request, we would like to know
whether the number you requested is about the judgements obtained by the
Hospital Authority (HA) for the Small Claims Tribunal cases concerned as
those judgements were not against the HA.
We look forward to receiving your reply.
Yours sincerely,
Sandy Chu(Miss)
Access to Information Officer
Hospital Authority Head Office
(Tel.: 2300 6568/2300 6555)
Dear Enquiry (Hospital Authority),
Sincere apologies regarding item (3).
What I meant to inquire was:
Please provide the number of judgements against non-refoulement claimants in Small Claims Tribunal actions bought by the HA from 2014 - 2020
Yours sincerely,
Carissa Tsang
This is to acknowledge receipt of your e-mail message.
(The above is generated by an auto-reply programme)
Hospital Authority ([1]www.ha.org.hk)
=====================================
謝謝閣下的電子郵件。
（以上為電腦自動發出的訊息）
醫院管理局 ([2]www.ha.org.hk)
=====================================
谢谢阁下的电子邮件。
（以上为电脑自动发出的讯息）
医院管理局 ([3]www.ha.org.hk)
________________________________
References
Visible links
1. file:///tmp/www.ha.org.hk
2. file:///tmp/www.ha.org.hk
3. file:///tmp/www.ha.org.hk
Dear Ms Tsang,
Thank you for your clarification.
Please find below the Hospital Authority (HA) Head Office’s response to
the items you requested:
Items 1 and 2
The HA does not compile the requested information. According to paragraph
1.14 of the Code on Access to Information, the Code does not oblige
departments to create a record which does not exist.
Item 3
The total number of judgements obtained by the HA in the past six
financial years from 2014/15 to 2019/20 is 2,685.
If you have any questions about this reply, please do not hesitate to
contact me.
Yours sincerely,
Sandy Chu(Miss)
Access to Information Officer
Hospital Authority Head Office
(Tel.: 2300 6568/2300 6555)
Dear Miss Chu,
Thank you very much for the information. Can you provide a yearly breakdown from 2014-2020 for the figure provided under item 3 please?
Yours sincerely,
Carissa Tsang
This is to acknowledge receipt of your e-mail message.
(The above is generated by an auto-reply programme)
Hospital Authority ([1]www.ha.org.hk)
=====================================
謝謝閣下的電子郵件。
（以上為電腦自動發出的訊息）
醫院管理局 ([2]www.ha.org.hk)
=====================================
谢谢阁下的电子邮件。
（以上为电脑自动发出的讯息）
医院管理局 ([3]www.ha.org.hk)
________________________________
References
Visible links
1. file:///tmp/www.ha.org.hk
2. file:///tmp/www.ha.org.hk
3. file:///tmp/www.ha.org.hk
Dear Ms Tsang,
Thank you for your email dated 5 January 2021.
Please find below the statistics provided by the Hospital Authority (HA)
Head Office:
Financial Year 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20
Number of 375 551 565 583 334 277
judgements
obtained from
the Small
Claims Tribunal
by the HA to
recover unpaid
bills by
non-refoulement
claimants
It should be noted that the number of judgements obtained may not
correspond to the number of claims filed in the same financial year.
If you have any questions about this reply, please do not hesitate to
contact me.
Yours sincerely,
Sandy Chu(Miss)
Access to Information Officer
Hospital Authority Head Office
(Tel.: 2300 6568/2300 6555)
