Investments in Equity Investees - Reconciliation of Summarized Financial Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Reconciliation of the summarized financial information presented to the carrying amount of investments in equity investees
Carrying amount of investments as at December 31	$ 138,318	$ 144,237
Hutchison Whampoa Guangzhou Baiyunshan Chinese Medicine Company Limited ("HBYS")
Reconciliation of the summarized financial information presented to the carrying amount of investments in equity investees
Carrying amount of investments as at December 31	60,992	55,308
Shanghai Hutchison Pharmaceuticals Limited ("SHPL")
Reconciliation of the summarized financial information presented to the carrying amount of investments in equity investees
Carrying amount of investments as at December 31	68,812	69,417
Nutrition Science Partners Limited ("NSPL")
Reconciliation of the summarized financial information presented to the carrying amount of investments in equity investees
Carrying amount of investments as at December 31	8,102	19,201
Commercial Platform \| Consumer Health \| Hutchison Whampoa Guangzhou Baiyunshan Chinese Medicine Company Limited ("HBYS")
Reconciliation of the summarized financial information presented to the carrying amount of investments in equity investees
Opening net assets after non-controlling interests as at January 1	110,616	127,072	$ 121,523
Net income/(loss) attributable to the shareholders of equity investee	16,860	20,776	20,376
Dividends declared		(45,128)	(6,000)
Other comprehensive (loss)/income	(5,492)	7,896	(8,827)
Closing net assets after non-controlling interests as at December 31	121,984	110,616	127,072
Group's share of net assets	60,992	55,308	63,536
Carrying amount of investments as at December 31	60,992	55,308	63,536
Commercial Platform \| Prescription Drugs \| Shanghai Hutchison Pharmaceuticals Limited ("SHPL")
Reconciliation of the summarized financial information presented to the carrying amount of investments in equity investees
Opening net assets after non-controlling interests as at January 1	132,731	150,134	93,263
Net income/(loss) attributable to the shareholders of equity investee	59,767	55,623	120,499
Dividends declared	(54,923)	(81,299)	(55,057)
Other comprehensive (loss)/income	(5,797)	8,273	(8,571)
Closing net assets after non-controlling interests as at December 31	131,778	132,731	150,134
Group's share of net assets	65,889	66,365	75,067
Goodwill	2,923	3,052	2,872
Carrying amount of investments as at December 31	68,812	69,417	77,939
Innovation Platform \| Nutrition Science Partners Limited (NSPL) and other immaterial equity investees
Reconciliation of the summarized financial information presented to the carrying amount of investments in equity investees
Carrying amount of investments as at December 31	8,514,000	19,512,000	17,031,000
Innovation Platform \| Drug R&D \| Nutrition Science Partners Limited ("NSPL")
Reconciliation of the summarized financial information presented to the carrying amount of investments in equity investees
Opening net assets after non-controlling interests as at January 1	38,401	33,611	18,093
Net income/(loss) attributable to the shareholders of equity investee	(38,198)	(9,210)	(8,482)
Investments	16,000	14,000	10,000
Capitalization of loans			14,000
Closing net assets after non-controlling interests as at December 31	16,203	38,401	33,611
Group's share of net assets	8,102	19,201	16,806
Carrying amount of investments as at December 31	$ 8,102	$ 19,201	$ 16,806

The amount of capitalized loans reported by an equity method investment of the entity.

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The amount of paid and unpaid dividends declared reported by an equity method investment of the entity.

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The amount of investment made by shareholders of the equity method investment during the period.

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The amount of other comprehensive income (loss) and net income (Loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest reported by an equity method investment of the entity.

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Difference between amount at which an investment accounted for under the equity method of accounting is carried (reported) on the balance sheet and amount of underlying equity in net assets the reporting Entity has in the investee.

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Amount of equity, excluding noncontrolling interest, attributable to the equity method investment of the entity.

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The amount of net income (loss) reported by an equity method investment of the entity.

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This item represents the entity's ownership percentage in the investee multiplied by the investee's total equity.

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This item represents the carrying amount on the entity's balance sheet of its investment in common stock of an equity method investee. This is not an indicator of the fair value of the investment, rather it is the initial cost adjusted for the entity's share of earnings and losses of the investee, adjusted for any distributions (dividends) and other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses recognized.

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