Gender Identity Clinic at Public Service in Hong Kong
INTRODUCTION
Gender-affirming care has been offered at public hospitals in Hong Kong since 1980. To this day, the one and only Gender Identity Clinic (GIC) is located at the Prince of Wales Hospital (PWH). The clinic was established in 2016.
GIC is a multidisciplinary clinic offering gender-affirming care to transgender and gender diverse individuals. A psychiatrist first understands one's gender identity and mental health needs, offering support and follow up. According to one’s needs, they will then be referred to corresponding services.
Example of a Referral Letter
Route Guide to GIC
Psychiatry, endocrinology, vocal coaching, speech therapy
Public healthcare fees has been raised since 2026 January 1
ESTIMATED WAITING TIME FOR GIC
Item
Estimated waiting time
Estimated date
(Counting from 2026 May)
First appointment of psychiatry
2 years and 1 month
-
25 months (109 weeks)
2028 June
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First appointment of endocrinology (Including hormones)*
3 years and 9 months
-
45 months (196 weeks)
2030 February
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From new registration to hormone prescription* (Waiting time for psy + endo)
5 years and 10 months
-
70 months (305 weeks)
2032 March
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*GIC's policy: Everyone is required to be first seen and referred by GIC psychiatry, to be able to see their endocrinology for hormones.
*Generally, after referred by GIC psychiatry, and when one is physically and psychologically ready, hormone prescription may begin the earliest at the first appointment of endocrinology. Otherwise, follow up may be required to receive a prescription.
1. Obtain a referral letter
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2. Make a new registration at GIC
3. Seen & referred by psychiatry to endocrinology
4. Attend an appointment of endocrinology
常見問題 FAQ
- 01
常見問題 FAQ
- 01
-
Blood taking 2 weeks prior.
-
A blood taking slip is usually provided by a psychiatrist. Please inquire your doctor for details.
-
-
If you have regular follow ups at other clinics (E.g. for gender-affirming hormones, or any health conditions, e.g. diabetes, hypertension, etc.):
Please inform your doctor before the first appointment of GIC endocrinology, and ask for a letter.
The doctor's letter may include the following:
Past medical history, health conditions,
Medications (if any): Names, dosage, start date & duration of use, date of last injection (If any), etc.
Furthermore, collect relevant healthcare records (E.g. blood reports).
-
At the first appointment of GIC endocrinology, please inform the doctor, and produce the above documents.
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Understand about gender-affirming hormones.
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Including expected effects, time course, potential risks, etc.
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NUMBER OF WEEKS OF WAITING TIME AT GIC
x-axis: Date
y-axis: Number of months
-
First appointment of psychiatry
-
First appointment of endocrinology
-
From new registration to hormone prescription (Waiting time of psychiatry + endocrinology)
GENDER-AFFIRMING SURGERIES OFFERED BY GIC
Gender-affirming surgeries at PWH are performed by surgeons of urology, plastic surgery, and obstetrics & gynecology. The waiting time since the first appointment* for each surgery is as follows:
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Removal of the penis and testes, construction of a vagina (Penectomy and bilateral orchiectomy, vaginoplasty)
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Around 10 years
According to one's needs, it is possible to have penectomy and bilateral orchiectomy only. Please consult your doctor for details.
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(Breast augmentation for gender-affirming care has been suspended since the year 2020-2021)
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Chest contouring (Bilateral mastectomy)
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Around 2-3 years
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Removal of the uterus and ovaries (Total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy)
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Around 2-3 years
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Release of the clitoris (Metoidioplasty)
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Around 2-3 years
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Construction of a penis (Phalloplasty)
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Around 4-5 years
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GIC usually requires
-
At least 2 years of real-life experience, with regular follow ups at psychiatry and clinical psychology of GIC.
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Referral from both psychiatry and clinical psychology, for different gender-affirming surgeries according to one's needs.
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From referral to the first appointment for gender-affirming surgery, it takes around 1-1.5 years.
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During this first appointment, one's health conditions, needs and expectations of the surgery will be explored. The doctor will also explain the details of the surgery. If appropriate, one will start queueing for the surgery.
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(For a referral letter from a psychiatrist for having a gender-affirming surgery other than at PWH, please consult your doctor for details)
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CONTACT OF GIC
Gender Identity Clinic
-
3505 4350 (The same number on appointment slips)
(If needed, the following may also be contacted for inquiries, and for
Paitent Relations Office
-
3505 2433
Working hours: Monday to Friday
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9 am-1 pm, and 2-5 pm
(Closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays)
常見問題 FAQ
- 01
WAITING TIME FOR THE FIRST APPOINTMENTS AT SPECIALIST CLINICS OF HA
New Territories East, including PWH
2025 April 1 - 2026 March 31
Item
Stable case (Median)
Stable case (Longest)
Psychiatry
74 weeks
104 weeks
Internal medicine (Including endocrinology)
48 weeks
88 weeks