A STRATEGY of mobilising leaders of Hong Kong’s professional associations to attract high-value international events to the city is paying dividends with the success of the latest medical conference – China’s largest gathering of chest-pain specialists.
Efforts by professionals appointed as Hong Kong Convention Ambassadors (HKCA) have helped build a growing pipeline of major medical conferences that underline the city’s ambition to be Asia’s leading hub for knowledge exchange – and the “World’s Meeting Place”.
The latest example is the 15th China Chest Pain Centres Congress (CCPCC 2026), the largest conference of its kind in China and, for the first time, hosted outside the Chinese Mainland.
CCPCC 2026 was brought to Hong Kong through the efforts of the ambassadors programme, operated by Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), which enlists senior figures across industries to champion the city as a destination for global conventions.
Held at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, on April 3-4 – with a concurrent venue in Shenzhen – CCPCC 2026 drew around 3,000 healthcare leaders, clinicians, researchers and policymakers from Hong Kong, mainland China, Belt and Road countries and beyond. The congress explored themes ranging from artificial intelligence-assisted clinical decision-making to intelligent emergency response systems and global accreditation standards.
The congress forms part of a strong start to 2026 for Hong Kong’s medical conference calendar, alongside the 41st Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology Congress in February and the 17th Asian Congress of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery in March.
According to HKTB, more than 10 medical conventions spanning disciplines from cytology and oncology to antimicrobial resistance are confirmed for the year, underscoring confidence among association organisers in Hong Kong’s ability to deliver complex, large-scale international meetings.
“Hong Kong’s leading edge in medical sciences coupled with the city’s world-class venues and destination appeal have enabled notable success for internationally significant medical events,” said Marilyn Tham, General Manager of Mega Events, MICE & Cruise at HKTB.
CCPCC 2026 is one of the large-scale medical conventions confirmed for 2026. Such robust lineup reflects event organisers’ confidence in Hong Kong as a premier hub for advancing global exchanges on medical sciences.”
– Marilyn Tham, HKTB
Behind the scenes, the HKCA programme has played a pivotal role. Established to harness the influence and networks of respected professionals, the scheme now comprises more than 170 ambassadors from 13 industries and academia, drawn from both Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland. To date, they have helped secure 50 international conventions, bringing nearly 100,000 high-value overnight MICE visitors to the city.
CCPCC 2026 was co-organised by the Hospital Authority of Hong Kong, the National Clinical Research Centre for Interventional Medicine, the Guangdong Chest Pain Centres Association, the Chinese Cardiovascular Association and the Oriental Huaxia Cardiovascular Health Research Institute, Suzhou Industrial Park. Organisers say the event’s growing international profile reflects Hong Kong’s ability to act as a bridge between mainland China and the global medical community.
“The global influence of CCPCC has been growing over the years,” said Wenming Zeng, Secretary-General of Oriental Huaxia Cardiovascular Health Research Institute.
“Thanks to Hong Kong’s strategic location, leading medical standing and its unique role bridging Chinese Mainland and the world, this year’s congress has drawn even wider global participation, giving the event greater international significance,” Wenming said.
Hong Kong has helped showcase our event to the world, taking cardiovascular emergency intervention to a new height globally.”
– Wenming Zeng, Oriental Huaxia Cardiovascular Health Research Institute
The congress also marked the first release of the International Standards on Chest Pain Centre Construction and Accreditation, highlighting China’s expanding role in cardiovascular emergency intervention. Hong Kong, with its international outlook and regulatory credibility, is expected to play a role in promoting and implementing the standards globally.
A key figure in bringing the congress to the city was Professor Lu Shi-Juan, a member of the Hainan Medical Association Cardiovascular Professional Committee and an HKTB-appointed Hong Kong Convention Ambassador.
As a Hong Kong International Convention Ambassador, I have worked closely with the HKTB to bring CCPCC to Hong Kong, which is a gateway to the global stage.”
– Professor Lu Shi-Juan
“Hosting the conference here showcases how Hong Kong can elevate Mainland conferences internationally, foster cross-border knowledge exchange and help shape the future development of the broader medical and professional community,” she added.
The success of CCPCC 2026 comes as HKTB marks the fifth anniversary of the HKCA programme, recently celebrating the milestone with a networking reception attended by ambassadors and industry stakeholders.
