DH and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region sign co-operation arrangement on construction and management of medicinal plant garden
The Chinese Medicine Regulatory Office (CMRO) of the Department of Health (DH) today (June 27) signed a Co-operation Arrangement with the Guangxi Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants (Guangxi Garden), a subsidiary organisation of the Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The Co-operation Arrangement aims to promote exchange and collaboration in medicinal plant cultivation techniques and germplasm resource sharing, as well as the promotion of medicinal plants, jointly advancing the modernisation and internationalisation of Chinese medicines.
The Co-operation Arrangement will enhance collaboration between the Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute (GCMTI) of the DH and Guangxi Garden in establishing a medicinal plant garden, exchanging medicinal plant germplasm resources, strengthening technical exchanges, and training talent. Guangxi and Hong Kong will leverage their strengths and characteristics in medicinal plants to create synergy and a win-win situation, promoting the all-round, high-quality and high-level development of the traditional Chinese medicine industry in the country. This will also help to inject new momentum into the high-quality development of Chinese medicines.
The Guangxi Garden was verified by Guinness World Records in 2011 for being the "largest medicinal herb garden" with the most plant varieties and the largest cultivating area. It is also a research institution that specialises in the collection, conservation, research and development of medicinal resources, and has achieved remarkable accomplishments in the conservation and innovative application of Chinese medicines resources.
The GCMTI is committed to developing a set of internationally recognised reference standards for Chinese medicines and related products. It empowers the industry through technology transfer to strengthen quality control of their products. Moreover, it has long been promoting the development of Chinese medicines in collaboration with institutions on the Mainland to deepen exchanges and co-operation in the field of Chinese medicines testing and reference standards.
The permanent premises of the GCMTI will be commissioned in phases starting from the end of this year, which will further advance innovative research in Chinese medicines. An outdoor medicinal plant garden will be featured therein, which will be open to the public, industry and research institutions. The Co-operation Arrangement will allow Hong Kong to tap into the experience of the Mainland, thus enhancing cultivation techniques and enriching the germplasm resources of the medicinal plant garden. With the establishment of the medicinal plant garden, the GCMTI will upstream and extend its research to cover medicinal plants, in addition to research on quality control of Chinese Materia Medica and proprietary Chinese medicines. Furthermore, the medicinal plant garden will become a base for promoting Chinese medicines culture, and fostering Chinese medicines culture in Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area and the world.
DH and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region sign co-operation arrangement on construction and management of medicinal plant garden Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
DH and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region sign co-operation arrangement on construction and management of medicinal plant garden Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Update on chikungunya fever
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health announced that, as of 5pm today (January 11), no new cases of chikungunya fever (CF) had been recorded.
Latest surveillance data
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Hong Kong has recorded a total of 82 confirmed CF cases last year. Among them, 11 were local cases, and the rest were imported cases.
Since the beginning of 2025, and as of December 10, 2025, a total of 502 264 CF cases and 186 CF-related deaths have been reported in over 40 countries/territories. Cases have been reported in the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe. Although the northern hemisphere has entered the winter season, temperatures in subtropical and some temperate regions remain elevated due to climate change, creating favourable conditions for mosquito breeding. In addition, CF outbreaks continue to occur in many countries worldwide. The risk of imported cases persists. Members of the public should check the situation of the destinations before travelling abroad, especially when travelling to Southeast Asian countries.
Government's comprehensive follow-up actions
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Given that some local cases of CF have visited the Tsing Yi Nature Trails or the surrounding area in November last year, the trails are currently closed until further notice. Relevant government departments continue to conduct large-scale mosquito control and prevention efforts along the trails, and the CHP appeals to the public not to enter the area in order to reduce the risk of contracting CF and to avoid exposure to chemicals or interfering with the mosquito control operations. Since the confirmation on December 10, 2025, of a case involving a person who had visited the Tsing Yi Nature Trails on November 30, 2025, no further local cases have been recorded to date. The CHP continues to urge individuals who have recently hiked along the Tsing Yi Nature Trails to seek medical attention as soon as possible if they develop relevant symptoms and to call the enquiry hotline (Tel: 2125 2373), which operates from 9am to 6pm.
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has been continuously conducting intensive fogging operations to eliminate adult mosquitoes along the Tsing Yi Nature Trails and the surrounding area. At suitable locations, large ultra-low volume foggers have been deployed, and a robot dog is being put on trial to enhance operational effectiveness. The FEHD has also set up new mosquito trapping devices, cleared discarded containers and garbage that could cause stagnant water, and applied larvicide oil or larvicides in areas with stagnant water that cannot be removed immediately. The FEHD has been collaborating with the Kwai Tsing District Office, the Lands Department and the Drainage Services Department to strengthen efforts in eliminating potential mosquito breeding sites along the Tsing Yi Nature Trails. Pamphlets have been distributed to hikers in the area, urging citizens to be vigilant against mosquito infestations and take personal protective measures. The FEHD has also held meetings of the interdepartmental task forces on anti-mosquito work across districts to discuss the latest developments regarding the situation and plan accordingly to co-ordinate relevant departments and stakeholders in strengthening mosquito prevention and control measures in areas under their purview.
Continuously strengthening prevention and control
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The FEHD and relevant departments have comprehensively enhanced the mosquito control operations in Hong Kong since July last year, and this has continued. Among these, the FEHD has conducted vector investigations and targeted mosquito control operations against the imported and local cases. In light of the local case, the FEHD has immediately conducted follow-up actions, including:
carrying out intensive fogging in scrubby areas within a 250-metre radius of the relevant locations to kill adult mosquitoes;
carrying out inspections of the locations, removing stagnant water, applying insecticides and disposing of abandoned water containers every week with a view to preventing mosquito breeding; and
enhancing public education efforts through organising health talks, setting up mobile education stations, and distributing publicity leaflets.
The abovementioned measures will be continued. Furthermore, the Government will further enhance the mosquito control efforts in addition to the existing measures.
Preventive measures to be taken by the public
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Members of the public should use DEET-containing insect repellents or other effective active ingredients properly to prevent mosquito bites, but the following precautions should be taken when using them:
read the label instructions carefully first;
apply right before entering an area with a risk of mosquito bites;
apply on exposed skin and clothing;
use DEET of up to 30 per cent for pregnant women and up to 10 per cent for children (for children who travel to countries or areas where mosquito-borne diseases are endemic or epidemic and where exposure is likely, those aged 2 months or above can use DEET-containing insect repellents with a DEET concentration of up to 30 per cent);
apply sunscreen first, then insect repellent;
reapply only when needed and follow the instructions; and
in addition to DEET, there are other insect repellents available on the market containing different active ingredients, such as IR3535 and picaridin. When using any insect repellent, the public should follow the usage instructions and precautions on the product label.
The FEHD also appeals to members of the public to continue to stay alert and work together to carry out mosquito prevention and control measures early, including inspecting their homes and surroundings to remove potential breeding grounds, changing water in vases and scrubbing their inner surfaces, removing water in saucers under potted plants at least once a week, and properly disposing of containers such as empty cans and lunch boxes. The FEHD also advises members of the public and property management agencies to keep drains free of blockage and level all defective ground surfaces to prevent the accumulation of water. They should also scrub all drains and surface sewers with an alkaline detergent at least once a week to remove any mosquito eggs.
The public should call 1823 in case of mosquito problems, and may visit the following pages for more information: the CF page of theCHPand theTravel Health Service, the latestTravel Health News,tips for using insect repellents, and the CHPFacebook Page,Instagram AccountandYouTube Channel, and also theMosquito Prevention and Control dedicated pageof the FEHD.
Source: AI-found images
