Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau today took part in a plenary session while attending day two of the World Health Organization's (WHO) 76th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.

Prof Lo and Director of Health Dr Ronald Lam attended the assembly as members of the Chinese delegation.

At the plenary session, National Health Commission Vice-minister Cao Xuetao delivered a speech on healthcare development in the Mainland.

Prof Lo and Dr Lam also met senior WHO officials to exchange views on healthcare-related issues.

While meeting Head of Traditional, Complementary & Integrative Medicine Unit Kim Sungchol and Director of the Integrated Health Service Department, Universal Health Coverage Rudi Eggers, Prof Lo introduced the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government's efforts in promoting Chinese medicine in Hong Kong.

Such efforts include the provision of outpatient services at 18 Chinese medicine clinics, training and research centres as well as integrated Chinese-Western medicine services for selected disease areas.

There will also be outpatient and inpatient services at Hong Kong's first-of-its-kind Chinese Medicine Hospital, which is expected to commence services by phases starting from 2025, he added.

The health chief then outlined the Hong Kong SAR Government's efforts in tobacco control at a meeting with Unit Head of the No Tobacco Unit, Health Promotion Team Vinayak Prasad and Unit Head of the Physical Activity, Health Promotion Team Fiona Bull.

Noting that Hong Kong's smoking prevalence has reached an all-time low of 9.5% from 23% in the early 1980s, Prof Lo said a consultation document will be issued next month to solicit public views on measures to further reduce the prevalence of smoking.

The two Hong Kong health officials plan to return to Hong Kong tomorrow.