Hong Kong’s Chinese Medicine Smoking Cessation Techniques Win National Award, Boosting Public Health Efforts.

DH's organised and subvented Chinese medicine acupuncture for smoking cessation techniques wins national award and training workshop makes relevant techniques accessible to more people

To safeguard public health, the Government has long strived to reduce the smoking prevalence in Hong Kong through a multipronged approach. Apart from legislation, law enforcement, taxation and health education, promoting smoking cessation services is of utmost importance. The Department of Health (DH) today (April 17) stated that the Chinese medicine (CM) smoking cessation techniques organised and subvented by the DH recently won a national award on the Chinese Mainland. The efficacy of Hong Kong's CM smoking cessation techniques has long been validated by evidence. The DH, designated as a World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Smoking Cessation and Treatment of Tobacco Dependence, today organised a training workshop on CM acupuncture for smoking cessation to help local and non-local frontline CM practitioners further enhance their knowledge and skills in delivering smoking cessation treatments to make them accessible to the public.

The CM smoking cessation service, organised and subvented by the DH and operated by Pok Oi Hospital, participated in a research project titled Research and Application of Acupuncture Intervention Techniques for Tobacco Dependence. This project recently won the second prize in the 2025 Science and Technology Award of the China Association of Chinese Medicine on the Chinese Mainland. The award not only recognises the efforts of Pok Oi Hospital and relevant medical institutions in researching, promoting and applying acupuncture techniques to address tobacco dependence, but also validates the efficacy of Hong Kong's CM smoking cessation techniques.

Since being designated as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Smoking Cessation and Treatment of Tobacco Dependence in 2012, the DH has served as a regional hub for supporting training in smoking cessation treatment and services. It regularly provides such training to tobacco control professionals in Hong Kong, on the Chinese Mainland and across the Western Pacific region.

The workshop today attracted about 80 CM practitioners from Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and Macao. The training workshop covers smoking cessation counselling, the mechanism and treatment plans of CM smoking cessation (including acupuncture and ear-point treatment). It is designed to help CM practitioners enhance their knowledge and skills in delivering cessation treatments. Studies show that combining acupuncture with ear-point treatment and professional counselling can effectively alleviate withdrawal symptoms and relieve discomforts during the initial stages of smoking cessation, thereby achieving significant therapeutic effects and increasing the success rate.

Since last year, the number of CM smoking cessation service providers subvented by the DH has increased from one to four, namely Pok Oi Hospital, the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, the United Christian Nethersole Community Health Service and the School of Chinese Medicine of the University of Hong Kong. The smoking cessation clinics primarily offer counselling and acupuncture, and the number of service users has doubled. Currently, there are over 200 service points across Hong Kong (including CM mobile clinics and fixed clinics) offering CM smoking cessation services, providing convenient access for those seeking to quit smoking.

Apart from organising CM smoking cessation training workshops, the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) of the DH also organises the Annual Training Programme on Tobacco Control for tobacco control workers in the Western Pacific region, and conducts smoking cessation treatment training courses for healthcare professionals from the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao. These training workshops have attracted a cumulative total of over 1 000 participants to date.

Furthermore, the DH has prepared a variety of resources for healthcare professionals, including patient pamphlets, referral forms to cessation clinics, "Very Brief Advice" and "Brief Intervention on Smoking Cessation" delivery toolkits, online training courses, and a Practical Handbook for Smoking Cessation Treatments. These resources are designed to support healthcare professionals in helping smokers quit through various channels. Relevant information has been uploaded to TACO's website.

Members of the public can call 1833 183 or visit the smoking cessation thematicwebsitefor more information on quitting smoking, and the available support tools and services.

DH's organised and subvented Chinese medicine acupuncture for smoking cessation techniques wins national award and training workshop makes relevant techniques accessible to more people Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DH's organised and subvented Chinese medicine acupuncture for smoking cessation techniques wins national award and training workshop makes relevant techniques accessible to more people Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Report on "Navigating the Green Shift: Opportunities and the Evolving Landscape of Transition Finance"

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

The Hong Kong Institute for Monetary and Financial Research (HKIMR), the research arm of the Hong Kong Academy of Finance (AoF), today (April 17) released a new Applied Research report, titled "Navigating the Green Shift: Opportunities and the Evolving Landscape of Transition Finance".

The report reviews the global transition finance landscape, examining the importance of multistakeholder collaborations and international best practices in preventing greenwashing and maintaining transparency. Based on a survey and in-depth interviews commissioned by the HKIMR, the study captures insights from a diverse range of global stakeholders - including financial institutions and multilateral organisations - offering a detailed analysis of the current state, emerging trends, and future trajectory of the international transition finance ecosystem.

The study reveals a clear momentum in transition finance, with 60 per cent of survey respondents already either active in or exploring transition finance developments. Among a diverse range of financial instruments, equity and fund investments as well as debt instruments were the most commonly used tools to channel capital towards transition projects. As the ecosystem progressively matures, a gradual shift towards more specialised instruments is anticipated. Respondents further observed that collaborative models, including blended finance approaches, can draw in private capital by enhancing the risk-return profiles of investments in transition projects.

The study also indicates that market outlook is cautiously optimistic, with 74 per cent of respondents anticipating a stable or growing global transition finance market over the next three years. Positive sentiment is most pronounced in the Asia-Pacific region, where 91 per cent of respondents expected stability or growth. Finally, the study outlines several considerations, including maintaining a high level of regulatory and policy clarity, and deepening regional collaborations, to support the development of a vibrant transition finance ecosystem in Hong Kong.

The Chief Executive Officer of the AoF and Executive Director of the HKIMR, Mr Enoch Fung,said, "By facilitating informed dialogues, cross-boundary collaborations, and continued innovation, Hong Kong can further reinforce its role as a leading sustainable finance hub and contribute to the long-term goals of climate resilience and sustainable economic development. This report offers actionable insights in consolidating Hong Kong's existing strengths in green and sustainable development."

The report is available on the AoF/HKIMR website.

About the AoF

The AoF is set up with full collaboration amongst the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, the Securities and Futures Commission, the Insurance Authority and the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority. By bringing together the strengths of the industry, the regulatory community, professional bodies and the academia, it aims to serve as (i) a centre of excellence for developing financial leadership; and (ii) a repository of knowledge in monetary and financial research, including applied research.

About the HKIMR

The HKIMR is the research arm of the AoF. Its main remit is to conduct research in the fields of monetary policy, banking and finance that are of strategic importance to Hong Kong and the Asia region. The Applied Research studies undertaken by the HKIMR are on topics that are highly relevant to the financial industry and regulators in Hong Kong, and they aim to provide insights on the long-term development strategy and direction of Hong Kong's financial industry.

Source: AI-found images

Report on "Navigating the Green Shift: Opportunities and the Evolving Landscape of Transition Finance" Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases