Acting Secretary for Health Dr Libby Lee today officiated at the kick-off event for the first Hong Kong Chinese Medicine Culture Festival, which will involve over 200 activities promoting Chinese medicine (CM) culture between now and February.

Dr Lee said CM development is being pushed on all fronts, riding in particular on two milestones: service commencement at the Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong (CMHHK) and the release of the Government's Chinese Medicine Development Blueprint at the end of next year.

She explained that the festival will give citizens first-hand experience of CM through diverse activities, thereby enhancing their interest in and understanding of it.

Supported by over 80 organisations from the CM sector and the community, activities during the festival will include free consultation sessions, thematic talks, and exchange forums and seminars, with various sectors, as well as members of the general public, being invited to participate.

A number of community organisations will also hold CM-related workshops and experiential activities, such as guided tours led by professional docents to explore herbal plants in the countryside.

To foster the cultural inheritance of CM, the festival also has in place activities targeting students, such as CM identification workshops and CM planting activities.

The kick-off event, held at Central Market, involved a number of exhibitions and interactive booths. These included a CM constitution identification booth, a simulated CM clinic for photo-taking, information panels on health maintenance during winter, and a CMHHK model exhibition and games. Thematic talks were also held.

Click here for details of activities during the festival.