Secretary for Health welcomes conclusion of transitional registration system for proprietary Chinese medicines
The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, today (June 24) welcomed the successful completion of the evaluation and approval procedures for all proprietary Chinese medicines (pCms) with transitional registration by the Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong (CMCHK). The transitional registration system for pCms will conclude on June 30, marking an important milestone for the regulation of Chinese medicine (CM) in Hong Kong, ensuring the public's access to quality and safe pCms, while also supporting Hong Kong's development as a bridgehead for the internationalisation of CM.
Professor Lo said, "I would like to express my gratitude to the CMCHK and its Chinese Medicines Board for their years of dedication in overcoming challenges to complete the historic task of the transitional registration for pCms. Hong Kong-registered pCms will become a key component in CM development as well as health and medical innovation. With Hong Kong's robust regulatory system for pCms, its brand effect can attract more high-quality pCms from the Mainland and overseas to register in the city, thereby assisting the industry in further expanding into global markets and accelerating the internationalisation of CM.
"In recent years, our country has been committed to promoting the inheritance and innovation development of CM with a number of CM-related policy initiatives formulated, including the streamlining of approval procedures for Hong Kong-registered traditional pCms to be registered on the Mainland. Currently, 16 traditional pCms for external use in Hong Kong have been approved for sale on the Mainland through the streamlined procedures. The development of pCms in Hong Kong has scaled new heights, aligning seamlessly with the national development plan for CM."
Professor Lo expressed that the successful completion of the work was attributed to the concerted efforts of the Government and industry. The Department of Health provided comprehensive professional and administrative support to the CMCHK, ensuring that the evaluation and approval procedures adhered to stringent requirements integrating traditional CM theories with modern science. Meanwhile, the CM industry demonstrated its commitment to enhancing the quality of CM by continuously enhancing production and management practices to meet relevant quality standards.
To assist holders of transitionally registered pCms in obtaining formal registration as early as possible, the Health Bureau has previously provided funding to the industry through the Chinese Medicine Development Fund. Under the Proprietary Chinese Medicine Registration Support Scheme, subsidies were granted to holders of transitionally registered pCms to engage professional consultants for advice on formal registration matters and/or to conduct necessary laboratory tests. Moving forward, the Government will continue to collaborate with the CM industry to jointly promote the innovation and development of CM. The Health Bureau will release the Chinese Medicine Development Blueprint by the end of this year, which will include more strategies to comprehensively enhance the development of CM in Hong Kong.
All 12th NGD and 9th NSOG competition events in Hong Kong conclude
The National Games Coordination Office (Hong Kong) (NGCO) today (December 14) announced that the three competition events of the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities (NGD) and the 9th National Special Olympic Games (NSOG) in Hong Kong, namely boccia, wheelchair fencing and para table tennis (TT11), concluded on the last day of competition. Together with the NSOG table tennis competition which concluded on December 9, all competition events in the Hong Kong competition region have been completed smoothly.
The boccia event was held at Kai Tak Arena, with a total of 14 gold medals awarded. Around 100 athletes from 13 teams from the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao took part. Among them, Hong Kong sent 11 male athletes and eight female athletes, and won four gold, four silver and four bronze medals, totalling 12 medals.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club Trophy wheelchair fencing competition was held at Ma On Shan Sports Centre, with a sum of 24 gold medals presented. Over 80 athletes from 10 teams from the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao participated in the competition. Hong Kong fielded seven male athletes and six female athletes, claiming one silver and two bronze medals, amounting to three medals altogether.
As for the Hong Kong Jockey Club Trophy para table tennis (TT11) competition held at Tsuen Wan Sports Centre, a total of five gold medals were awarded. 36 athletes from 13 teams from the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao competed in the event, including seven male athletes and five female athletes from Hong Kong. The Hong Kong team achieved one silver and five bronze medals, adding up to six medals in total.
The Special Olympics table tennis competition was also held at Tsuen Wan Sports Centre earlier, with a total of 78 gold medals awarded. Over 150 athletes from 29 teams from the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao joined the competition. Six male athletes and five female athletes from Hong Kong won nine gold, six silver and four bronze medals, totalling 19 medals.
Across various events of the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG this year, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region fielded over 280 athletes supported by about 140 accompanying team officials and medical personnel taking part in 14 competition events and four mass participation events of the NGD, as well as seven events of the NSOG, forming the largest delegation ever. The Hong Kong team won a total of 51 gold, 49 silver and 40 bronze medals, totalling 140 medals, achieving historic results.
A spokesperson for the NGCO said that the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG, co-hosted for the first time by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, brought together outstanding athletes from across the country. They demonstrated indomitable sportsmanship and remarkable athletic prowess in the competitions.While extending congratulations to all medallists, the spokesperson also expressed gratitude to various relevant government departments, sports organisations and related institutions for their full support and assistance in staging the events, and the public and volunteers for their enthusiastic support, which enabled the smooth running of all events in the Hong Kong competition region and the successful conclusion of the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG.
All 12th NGD and 9th NSOG competition events in Hong Kong conclude Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
All 12th NGD and 9th NSOG competition events in Hong Kong conclude Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
All 12th NGD and 9th NSOG competition events in Hong Kong conclude Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
All 12th NGD and 9th NSOG competition events in Hong Kong conclude Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
All 12th NGD and 9th NSOG competition events in Hong Kong conclude Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
All 12th NGD and 9th NSOG competition events in Hong Kong conclude Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
All 12th NGD and 9th NSOG competition events in Hong Kong conclude Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
All 12th NGD and 9th NSOG competition events in Hong Kong conclude Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
All 12th NGD and 9th NSOG competition events in Hong Kong conclude Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
All 12th NGD and 9th NSOG competition events in Hong Kong conclude Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
All 12th NGD and 9th NSOG competition events in Hong Kong conclude Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
All 12th NGD and 9th NSOG competition events in Hong Kong conclude Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
