DH holds Training Workshop on Chinese Medicine Acupuncture Smoking Cessation Service 2024
The Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) of the Department of Health (DH) today (July 19) organised the Training Workshop on Chinese Medicine Acupuncture Smoking Cessation Service 2024, which provides training on acupuncture to 138 frontline Chinese medicine (CM) practitioners to enhance their skills in providing CM acupuncture smoking cessation services.
To strengthen knowledge exchange on tobacco control and share local experiences in cessation service provision with Mainland and Macao healthcare professionals, TACO extended invitations to CM practitioners from the Mainland and Macao to participate in this year's workshop. The training content spanned smoking cessation counseling, the mechanism and treatment plans of CM smoking cessation, as well as practical demonstrations of acupuncture and ear point treatment techniques, further equipping frontline CM practitioners with the necessary knowledge and skills in delivering cessation treatments. Of the participants, 114 frontline CM practitioners were from the Mainland and Macao. Among them, 98 were recommended by the Traditional Chinese Medicine Bureau of Guangdong Province and the Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
Research shows that acupuncture combined with ear point treatment and professional counselling can effectively alleviate withdrawal symptoms and the short-term discomforts that may appear when smokers start to quit smoking, thus increasing the success rate of quitting smoking. According to the experience of DH-subvented CM acupuncture smoking cessation service operated by Pok Oi Hospital, a quit rate of over 20 per cent (i.e. the percentage of service users who self-reported to have stayed quit in the past seven days) at 52 weeks after the quit date was attained, comparable to that of the cessation services using nicotine replacement therapy.
The DH has also introduced Chinese medicine ear point patches to help with quitting smoking, which is a new initiative under the Quit in June campaign this year. The application of cowherb seeds on the surface of the ears to stimulate ear points will lessen the discomfort related to nicotine withdrawal, especially during the early stage of quitting. People who wish to quit smoking can receive Chinese medicine ear point patches for free at more than 40 Chinese medicine clinics across the territory. They can also enrol in free Chinese medicine and acupuncture smoking cessation services anytime, or after they have tried the Chinese medicine ear point patches for two weeks. Members of the public can call 1833 183 or visit the smoking cessation thematic website (www.livetobaccofree.hk) for more information on quitting and the available support tools and services.
The DH has become a regional hub for supporting training in smoking cessation treatment and services, after it was designated by the World Health Organization to establish the Collaborating Centre for Smoking Cessation and Treatment of Tobacco Dependence in April 2012. In addition to the Annual Training Programme on Tobacco Control for tobacco control workers in the Western Pacific region, TACO also regularly holds smoking cessation treatment training courses to enhance the capability of local healthcare professionals in providing smoking cessation support.
The DH will further strengthen collaboration and communication with the Mainland in tobacco control, and it is committed to providing continued support in cessation training and assistance, as well as jointly promoting the construction of a smoke-free Greater Bay Area.
DH holds Training Workshop on Chinese Medicine Acupuncture Smoking Cessation Service 2024 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
"Sea, Land, Sky"-themed Carnival leads public to explore Hong Kong's ICH items and geographical features
The Intangible Cultural Heritage Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department is holding the "ICH Wonder Adventure: Sea, Land & Sky" Carnival at the TKO Plaza in Tseung Kwan O today (June 27) and tomorrow (June 28). The Carnival is one of the programmes of Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) Month 2026. With the theme "Sea, Land, Sky", the carnival brings together ICH items and the geographical features of Hong Kong. Through interactive games, experiential workshops and ICH displays, it will allow the public to explore Hong Kong ICH in a fun and engaging way.
The game zone of the Carnival is designed in a chessboard concept. Members of the public can participate on-site for free. Through a series of activities, including Fishing Net Casting, Salt Making Treasure Hunt, Movable-type Printing Trial, ICH Quiz Wheel and ICH ABC, the public may learn about the techniques of fishing net plaiting, fishing methods, salt-making and movable-type printing, as well as fishermen's knowledge about the universe and nature. After collecting stamps while playing to complete a postcard to be distributed on-site, the public may post it at the posting box in the Carnival, and will receive the postcard later with a stamp under the special series "Intangible Cultural Heritage - Tai O Dragon Boat Water Parade", newly issued in mid-June 2026 by Hongkong Post. The public may also draw a dialect card, which will introduce common words and phrases in dialects including Cantonese, Hakka dialect, Wai Tau (Punti) dialect and Fishermen's dialect in texts and illustrations.
The public can join experiential workshops featuring wood carving, jewelry making and fishing net plaiting techniques on the first day. More workshops of various themes will be held tomorrow, including the mahjong tile making technique, in which participants will try their hand at carving and colouring mahjong tiles featuring designs that reflect Hong Kong's unique character and geographical features, such as pineapple buns, milk tea, aeroplanes and sailing ships. In the workshop on the jewelry making technique, the participants can create mobile phone stands resembling the vivid dance posture of auspicious animals by using jewelry making tools. In the workshop on the fishing net plaiting technique, participants will be guided by the instructor in making double-sided multi-use fishing net pouches. In the workshop on the blown sugar technique, the instructor will demonstrate and introduce the blown sugar technique, allowing the participants to produce their own blown sugar creations.
For details of the carnival, please visit the website: www.icho.hk/en/web/icho/2026_hkich_month_carnival_tko_plaza.html.
"Sea, Land, Sky"-themed Carnival leads public to explore Hong Kong's ICH items and geographical features Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
"Sea, Land, Sky"-themed Carnival leads public to explore Hong Kong's ICH items and geographical features Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
"Sea, Land, Sky"-themed Carnival leads public to explore Hong Kong's ICH items and geographical features Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
"Sea, Land, Sky"-themed Carnival leads public to explore Hong Kong's ICH items and geographical features Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
"Sea, Land, Sky"-themed Carnival leads public to explore Hong Kong's ICH items and geographical features Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
"Sea, Land, Sky"-themed Carnival leads public to explore Hong Kong's ICH items and geographical features Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
"Sea, Land, Sky"-themed Carnival leads public to explore Hong Kong's ICH items and geographical features Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
"Sea, Land, Sky"-themed Carnival leads public to explore Hong Kong's ICH items and geographical features Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
"Sea, Land, Sky"-themed Carnival leads public to explore Hong Kong's ICH items and geographical features Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
"Sea, Land, Sky"-themed Carnival leads public to explore Hong Kong's ICH items and geographical features Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
