DH steps up enforcement action against illegal use of pharmacy logo and title for Labour Day Golden Week of Mainland
As the Labour Day Golden Week of the Mainland approaches, the Department of Health (DH) today (April 29) announced that inspections in tourist areas have been stepped up to crack down on the illegal use of pharmacy logo, in order to safeguard public health and enhance tourists' confidence in shopping in Hong Kong.
The DH conducts unannounced inspections of Authorized Sellers of Poisons (ASPs), commonly known as pharmacies, and Listed Sellers of Poisons from time to time to monitor their compliance with the law and the relevant codes of practice. In the first quarter of 2025, about 3 200 such inspections were conducted.
From April 2024 to March 2025, nine limited companies, which were not pharmacies, were convicted of displaying a logo on their premises, which resembled the logo in the prescribed form of a pharmacy (see Annex), and were fined amounts ranging from $2,000 to $16,800.
According to the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Cap. 138) (the Ordinance), only persons authorised by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong (the Board) as ASPs are allowed to conduct the relevant retail business of selling poisons at premises registered by the Board, including the poisons listed in Part 1 and Part 2 of the Poisons List at Schedule 10 of the Pharmacy and Poisons Regulations (Cap. 138A). "Pharmacy" or "Dispensary" is a restricted title for a shop that has been granted a valid licence of ASP.
As far as "Listed Sellers of Poisons" are concerned, retail outlets can conduct the retail business of selling poisons listed in Part 2 of the Poisons List and can only sell common drugs, such as cold and flu medicines, and do not have a duty pharmacist in the shop. Such vendors cannot use pharmacy logo and title.
Displaying a logo in the prescribed form of a pharmacy or a logo which resembles the logo in the prescribed form at a premises other than the registered premises of a pharmacy, or using the Chinese term "藥房" or the terms such as "pharmacy", "dispensary" or "drugstore" in connection with any business engaged in the retail sale of poisons commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $100,000 and two years' imprisonment.
The DH has been collecting intelligence through different channels. If any retailer is suspected of illegally displaying a pharmacy logo in the prescribed form or a pharmacy title, the DH will immediately investigate and conduct a joint operation with relevant law enforcement departments when necessary.
To help the public identify registered pharmacies, the DH has formulated a label for identification of ASPs. The labels have been sent to each pharmacy for display at a conspicuous place in the pharmacy. Consumers can obtain information of the registered pharmacy by scanning the QR code on the label displayed in the pharmacy.
Members of the public and tourists can also download the eHealth app from the website (app.ehealth.gov.hk) and use the "Licence Scanner" on its homepage to scan the QR code displayed at the pharmacy. For registered pharmacies, the message "This is a QR Code issued for licensed pharmacy" will be shown, alongside with details of that particular registered pharmacy. Members of the public can also visit thewebsiteof the Drug Office of the DH for names and addresses of all licensees including ASPs.
In addition, to help Mainland visitors distinguish pharmacies in Hong Kong, the DH also detailed points to note when buying medicines from pharmacies in Hong Kong on its official WeChat account (www.chp.gov.hk/en/static/108354.html).
For more information on the safety of buying and safe use of medicines, please visit the website of the DH's Drug Office (www.drugoffice.gov.hk/eps/do/en/consumer/consumer_safety_advisories/index.html).
SITI attends Viva Technology 2025 in Paris, France
The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, attended Viva Technology 2025 (VivaTech) in Paris, France, yesterday (June 13, Paris time). In his keynote speech at a seminar and networking reception themed "From Hong Kong to the World: Embarking on the New Journey of Innovation" organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), Professor Sun said Hong Kong is forging ahead with a clear vision to develop as an international innovation and technology (I&T) centre, and is committed to pushing boundaries, embracing change, and seizing global opportunities.
Professor Sun said the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has been introducing agile policies, building world-class infrastructure and facilitating global I&T collaboration. He noted the flagship research and development (R&D) initiative, InnoHK, fosters global R&D collaboration. Hong Kong is also carrying out meticulous planning for building artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem, including AI Supercomputing Centre opened last year and the Hong Kong AI Research and Development Institute to be established, together with $10 billion dollars-worth Innovation and Technology Industry-Oriented Fund channeling more market capital to turbocharge strategic industries, with AI at the core.
Highlighting that Hong Kong being an ideal gateway for global enterprises to enter the Mainland market, Professor Sun said the HKSAR Government has been actively attracting overseas and the Mainland I&T enterprises to set up or expand their businesses in Hong Kong. Companies choosing HK for the international headquarters exemplify Hong Kong’s important role as a "super connector" and a "super value-adder" between Mainland China and the rest of the world, serving as a two-way springboard for attracting overseas enterprises and helping Mainland enterprises to "go global".
During the seminar and networking reception, Professor Sun also exchanged views with members of the local I&T sector, investors and start-ups' founders on I&T development and collaboration.
Professor Sun also visited the Hong Kong Tech Pavilion. Twenty start-ups from the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation and Cyberport participated this year, showcasing cutting-edge solutions and innovations in areas of AI, robotics, HealthTech, sustainable and ClimateTech, and Fintech. At the same time, Professor Sun toured the Canada Pavilion set up by Canada which was selected as country of the year for VivaTech 2025, the China Pavilion and pavilions set up by other leading enterprises and start-ups where he had a brief exchange with representatives of the participating organisations to learn more on their innovative solutions.
In the evening, Professor Sun met with Mr Emmanuel Carcassonne, the Chairman of La French Tech Hong Kong-Shenzhen, a community dedicated to supporting the development of the French startup ecosystem both in France and internationally. Professor Sun said that Hong Kong is a reliable partner for French startups to settle and expand businesses in Hong Kong.
In the afternoon, Professor Sun paid a courtesy call on Minister Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in France Mr Chen Li, to brief him on the work of developing Hong Kong into an international I&T centre, enhancing the I&T ecosystem, fostering co-ordinated development among upstream, midstream and downstream, as well as the city's continuous efforts in integrating into national I&T development.
Professor Sun will continue his visit to Paris today (June 14, Paris time) and depart for the Netherlands on June 15 (Amsterdam time).
SITI attends Viva Technology 2025 in Paris, France Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SITI attends Viva Technology 2025 in Paris, France Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SITI attends Viva Technology 2025 in Paris, France Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SITI attends Viva Technology 2025 in Paris, France Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SITI attends Viva Technology 2025 in Paris, France Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SITI attends Viva Technology 2025 in Paris, France Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SITI attends Viva Technology 2025 in Paris, France Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SITI attends Viva Technology 2025 in Paris, France Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SITI attends Viva Technology 2025 in Paris, France Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
