# Ko Wing-man > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ko_Wing-man > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ko_Wing-man.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ko_Wing-man > Source revision: 1347642283 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Ko Wing-man GBS, JP 高永文 Ko in 2019 Secretary for Food and Health In office 1 July 2012 – 30 June 2017 Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying Preceded by York Chow Succeeded by Sophia Chan Personal details Born (1957-06-16) June 16, 1957 (age 69) Hong Kong Alma mater University of Hong Kong (MBBS) **Ko Wing-man** [GBS](/source/Gold_Bauhinia_Star), [JP](/source/Justice_of_the_Peace) ([Chinese](/source/Chinese_language): 高永文, born 1957) is a non-official member of the [Executive Council of Hong Kong](/source/Executive_Council_of_Hong_Kong). He served as the [Secretary for Food and Health](/source/Secretary_for_Food_and_Health) of [Hong Kong](/source/Hong_Kong) from 2012 to 2017. Besides being an orthopedic specialist, he is the member of The Medical Council of Hong Kong, the chairman of The Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society, member of the Board of [Hong Kong Baptist University](/source/Hong_Kong_Baptist_University), member of the Board of [Hong Kong Red Cross](/source/Hong_Kong_Red_Cross), Board of Directors of the Chiu Sheung School Hong Kong, Consultant of the pro-Beijing [New People's Party (Hong Kong)](/source/New_People's_Party_(Hong_Kong)), The New Voice Club of Hong Kong, Happy Charity For Public Foundation, Asia-Pacific Anti Additive Association, the President of the Hong Kong Medical & Health Association of China, the Chairman of the Strategic Development Committee, the Chairman of the [Chinese Medicine Development Committee](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chinese_Medicine_Development_Committee&action=edit&redlink=1) and the Standing Committee of the Chaozhou, GuangDong Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultable Conference. ## Background Ko graduated from [Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine](/source/Li_Ka_Shing_Faculty_of_Medicine), [University of Hong Kong](/source/University_of_Hong_Kong) in 1981. He began his career at [Princess Margaret Hospital of Hong Kong](/source/Princess_Margaret_Hospital%2C_Hong_Kong) then at the [Hospital Authority](/source/Hospital_Authority). In 1992, Ko received his master's degree in [Health Administration](/source/Health_Administration) from the [University of New South Wales](/source/University_of_New_South_Wales). He served the position of Director of Professional Services & Public Affairs and Director of Professional Services and Human Resources during his time in the Hospital Authority. During the [SARS outbreak](/source/2002%E2%80%932004_SARS_outbreak) in 2003, he served as the acting Chief Executive of the Hospital Authority when [Ho Shiu-wei](/source/William_Ho) was infected with [SARS](/source/SARS). The medical system in Hong Kong was heavily criticised for having responded too slowly to the deadly disease. Following the [LegCo](/source/Legislative_Council_of_Hong_Kong) investigation report on SARS, Ko resigned from the Hospital Authority, along with Chairman [Edward Leong](/source/Edward_Leong) in 2004. In 2004, he began serving as Chairman of the Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society, Director of the [Hong Kong Red Cross](/source/Hong_Kong_Red_Cross) and Chairman of their Health & Care Service Management Committee.[1] Ko joined reconstruction efforts after the [2008 Sichuan earthquake](/source/2008_Sichuan_earthquake). In 2012, he was appointed [Secretary for Food and Health](/source/Secretary_for_Food_and_Health).[2] In September 2022, Ko said that Hong Kong should not treat COVID-19 as a flu, and also said that the city should not relax anti-epidemic measures.[3] On 12 September 2022, *SCMP* reported that the government's COVID-19 Expert Advisory Panel, composed of six medical specialists, had several members who suggested gradually lifting COVID-19 restrictions (including removing hotel quarantine by November 2022), with Ko and [Lo Chung-mau](/source/Lo_Chung-mau) expressing their doubts about their suggestions and preferring a cautious approach.[4] Ko also rejected Singapore's approach to COVID-19, calling it "lying flat," though daily caseloads in Singapore averaged between 1,000 and 3,000 per day, compared to around 10,000 per day in Hong Kong.[4] On 25 September 2022, after the government lifted mandatory hotel quarantine against Ko's earlier suggestion, Ko said the government made the decision based on data.[5] Ko also said that lifting of quarantine "does not mean the government has opted to lie flat," and that the city "has never opted to live with the virus."[6] On 17 October 2022, Ko defended the government's decision to invalidate 20,000 vaccine exemption passes, and said it was for the public interest.[7] However, the government's decision to invalidate the passes was earlier temporarily blocked by the High Court.[8] ## Honours In 1986, Ko received a fellowship from the [Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh](/source/Royal_College_of_Surgeons_of_Edinburgh). He became a fellow of the Orthopaedic Surgery at Hong Kong Academy of Medicine in 1993 and a fellow of the Community Medicine in 2000. Ko received another fellowship of the [Faculty of Public Health Medicine](/source/Faculty_of_Public_Health_Medicine) at [Royal College of Physicians](/source/Royal_College_of_Physicians).[9] He was awarded the [BBS](/source/Bronze_Bauhinia_Star) in 2008.[1] ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-HKGov_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-HKGov_1-1) ["Dr Ko Wing-man, BBS, JP, Secretary for Food and Health"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120712050250/http://www.gov.hk/en/about/govdirectory/po/sfh.htm). [Government of Hong Kong](/source/Government_of_Hong_Kong). July 2012. Archived from [the original](http://www.gov.hk/en/about/govdirectory/po/sfh.htm) on 12 July 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2012. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["New team of Principal Officials appointed"](http://7thspace.com/headlines/415746/new_team_of_principal_officials_appointed.html). [Government of Hong Kong](/source/Government_of_Hong_Kong). 28 June 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2012. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Standard, The. ["Treat Covid as flu? Not now: former health chief Ko Wing-man"](https://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking-news/section/4/194302/Treat-Covid-as-flu?-Not-now:-former-health-chief-Ko-Wing-man). *The Standard*. Retrieved 2022-09-04. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_4-1) ["'One-tone approach': why Hong Kong's health experts have been told to keep mum"](https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3192104/ordered-keep-mum-hong-kongs-outspoken-covid-19). *South China Morning Post*. 2022-09-12. Retrieved 2022-09-12. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Govt was right to relax border control: Tam Yiu-chung - RTHK"](https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1668361-20220925.htm?). *news.rthk.hk*. Retrieved 2022-09-25. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Li, Almond (2022-09-26). ["Covid-19: Relaxing quarantine policy not the same as 'lying flat,' Hong Kong officials say"](https://hongkongfp.com/2022/09/26/covid-19-relaxing-quarantine-policy-not-the-same-as-laying-flat-hong-kong-officials-say/). *Hong Kong Free Press HKFP*. Retrieved 2022-09-26. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Standard, The. ["Southeast Asians help power visitor numbers"](https://www.thestandard.com.hk/section-news/section/4/246427/Southeast-Asians-help-power-visitor-numbers). *The Standard*. Retrieved 2022-10-17. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Li, Almond (2022-10-11). ["Hong Kong court blocks gov't from invalidating Covid-19 jab exemptions issued by arrested doctors"](https://hongkongfp.com/2022/10/11/hong-kong-court-blocks-govt-from-invalidating-covid-19-jab-exemptions-issued-by-arrested-doctors/). *Hong Kong Free Press HKFP*. Retrieved 2022-10-17. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Dr Ko Wing Man"](http://www.scm.hku.hk/cv/kowingman.pdf) (PDF) (in Chinese). [University of Hong Kong](/source/University_of_Hong_Kong). 14 October 2011. Retrieved 19 July 2012.[*[dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*] Political offices Preceded by York Chow Secretary for Food and Health 2012–2017 Succeeded by Sophia Chan v t e Current members of the Executive Council of Hong Kong President: John Lee (Chief Executive)1 Official members Secretaries of Departments Eric Chan Paul Chan Paul Lam Deputy Secretaries of Departments Warner Cheuk Michael Wong Horace Cheung Secretaries Rosanna Law Erick Tsang Christopher Hui Chris Tang Tse Chin-wan Algernon Yau Lo Chung-mau Mable Chan Bernadette Linn Winnie Ho Ingrid Yeung Christine Choi Sun Dong Alice Mak Chris Sun Non-official members Convenor Regina Ip Members Arthur Li Jeffrey Lam Tommy Cheung Martin Liao Joseph Yam Ronny Tong Lam Ching-choi Kenneth Lau Moses Cheng Margaret Leung Chan Kin-por Eliza Chan Ko Wing-man Stanley Ng Gary Chan 1 The Chief Executive serves as the President of the ExCo, but is not a member of the ExCo. --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ko Wing-man](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ko_Wing-man) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ko_Wing-man?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.