A spokesman for Jean Chretien says the former Canadian prime minister is receiving treatment to remove a kidney stone in Hong Kong.
Bruce Hartley, a former executive assistant to Chretien, says he will return to Canada following treatment to remove it.
Chretien, 85, was scheduled to speak at the U.S-China Trade and Economic Relations Forum in Hong Kong today.
Instead he was taken to hospital shortly after landing in the semi-independent Chinese territory Monday evening.
Tung Chee-hwa, a former leader of the semi-independent Chinese territory, told attendees at conference that Chretien would not be able to make it to the event.
Expanding trade with China was a theme in Chretien's time in office and he's continued working on business links between China and North America since he went back to private life.