Hong Kong's Advance Decision on Life-sustaining Treatment Ordinance entered into force today, the government announced. The ordinance creates a legal framework for advance medical directives (AMDs) and do-not-attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation (DNACPR) orders, and shields healthcare professionals and rescuers from liability when following them. From today, healthcare professionals and rescuers must comply with a patient's AMD or DNACPR order once notified of it and its conditions are met. Under the principle of "if in doubt, save lives first,” they are legally protected if they administer treatment because they were unaware of a valid order, or withhold treatment based on a reasonable belief that a valid order exists. The Government set a roughly 18-month preparation period before gazetting 31 July as the commencement date on 22 May 2026.