The government will prioritise extending the coverage of the healthcare voucher scheme for the over 65s to mainland cities that have more elderly Hongkongers, according to health secretary Lo Chung-mau.

The minister told reporters on Wednesday that lawmakers at an antechamber meeting suggested allowing senior citizens from the SAR to spend the vouchers at top-notch hospitals on the mainland.

They also proposed expanding the scheme to Fujian – a province popular among retirees from the SAR, Lo added.

"We are now developing the criteria for approving these additional healthcare voucher utilisation hospitals, and we will soon be accepting applications," he said.

"The intention is to especially make sure that these spots for the use of elderly healthcare vouchers can be linked with our future spots for the elderly healthcare homes, in order to facilitate the healthcare service for these elderly people across the border."

The government earlier said it would look into extending the scheme's coverage to medical institutions in the Greater Bay Area, and study the feasibility of allowing Hongkongers living across the border to pay for their health insurance with their vouchers.