Wish to contribute to the betterment of Hong Kong community

“I was born and raised in Hong Kong, and I have a strong attachment to the city. I hope to spend more time with public-related sectors and be involved in the community at different levels," says Anita Fung, who joined the Hospital Authority (HA) Board at the end of last year.

With over 30 years’ experience in the banking sector, Anita has worked as the CEO of a leading international financial institution and is committed to the continued development of the banking industry in Hong Kong. Since leaving her full-time job, she has held a number of public service positions. “I'm looking forward to working with the HA because healthcare is so relevant to people's lives and I want to do my bit,” she explains.

Boosting employee morale

All industries now face the challenge of losing staff. Anita believes people are the most valuable parts in both financial and healthcare organisations. The combination of encouraging whole-person development and boosting morale is the key to retaining talent.

In financial institutions, for example, practitioners gain satisfaction from their work in recommending the most suitable products to their clients, which requires expertise and time to fully understand their clients' financial goals. “Similarly, I believe, with the determination to serve the public, healthcare professionals make endeavours to deliver quality healthcare services to the citizens,” Anita says.

“Therefore, apart from considering human resources measures, such as promotion opportunities and home loan interest subsidy schemes, it is crucial to keep a close eye on the actual working conditions of healthcare workers in hospitals, and to provide them with sufficient time, resources and professional training as far as possible. In this case, employees can achieve their desired quality of service and their efforts are rewarded.”

Change is the only constant

The work of healthcare professionals has become more challenging amid the epidemic, and Anita is grateful to healthcare professionals for their tireless efforts to provide the best possible care to patients throughout the crisis. “The epidemic has highlighted the fact that change is the only constant,” she reflects. “I always encourage myself and others around me to think positively and to be more empathetic, especially to those in need. I was much impressed by the HA colleagues who are dedicated at the forefront of healthcare services in the face of the epidemic.”

Anita considers it inevitable that people have to adjust their lifestyles because of the continuing epidemic, but believes the so-called new normal presents opportunities as well as challenges. “The community as a whole has adopted a new paradigm to cope with the ever-changing environment,” she argues. “For example, the shift from physical to video conferencing is an unexpected progression in technology, and I note that the HA has accordingly accelerated the development of tele-consultation for the convenience of patients and their families.” She looks forward to sharing her experience in the financial sector to advise on the development of digitalisation in HA and the integration of sustainability concepts into operational management in the long run.

Outside her busy work schedule, Anita enjoys arts and culture like museums, concerts and varieties of exhibition. “Cultivating a wide range of interests allows me to broaden my mind and face obstacles at work or in life with a more balanced and positive attitude,” she says.