Acting Secretary for Health Dr Libby Lee today met a delegation led by National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (NATCM) Vice Commissioner Wang Zhiyong, to discuss the promotion of Chinese medicine (CM) development.

Dr Lee said the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is committed to promoting the high-quality development of CM in Hong Kong on all fronts, and has been stepping up its efforts and devoting more resources towards achieving that end in recent years.

He made reference to various initiatives, including construction of the first Chinese Medicine Hospital (CMH) in Hong Kong, and of a permanent building for the Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute, which will be commissioned in phases starting from the end of next year. Additional funds are also being injected into the Chinese Medicine Development Fund, and a Chinese Medicine Development Blueprint is being formulated.

The Hong Kong SAR Government expressed its sincere gratitude to the NATCM for its unwavering support for the development of CM in Hong Kong. Since November last year, the NATCM has been collaborating with the Health Bureau in rolling out the Hong Kong Chinese Medicine Talent Training Programme. The programme is providing advanced clinical training to nearly 90 Hong Kong CM practitioners and professionals.

The Hong Kong SAR Government is currently collaborating with the CM sector to formulate a CM blueprint, which is expected for release next year and will map out a vision and strategies for the sector’s future development in Hong Kong.

Dr Lee said the bureau attaches great importance to the Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese Modernization, as adopted by the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, and will strenuously work to deepen medical and healthcare reform, as stipulated in the resolution, by pursuing healthcare innovation.

The NATCM delegation arrived in Hong Kong this morning for a four-day visit. It will participate in the Launch Ceremony of the Clinical Guideline of Acupuncture & Moxibustion for Smoking Cessation, and a National Survey of Chinese Materia Medica Resources (Hong Kong Region) Activity Day organised by the Department of Health.

In addition, the delegation will attend the 75th National Day Chinese Medicine Expo Carnival, organised by the Federation of the Hong Kong Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Chinese Medicines Traders Association, with sponsorship from the bureau.

The carnival will be held at Plaza Hollywood in Diamond Hill on September 21 and 22. It will involve a range of activities for public participation, including a Chinese herbal medicines, health maintenance seminars, and free CM consultation sessions.