Two more new drugs approved for registration under "1+" mechanism
A Government spokesman announced today (April 23) that two additional new drugs have been approved for registration under the "1+" drug approval mechanism, bringing the total number of new drugs approved under this mechanism to 21. These drugs, in two different dosages, are used to treat patients with hemophilia A or B, bringing more treatment options. The Government will continue to accelerate the introduction of innovative drugs and medical devices so that patients can gain early access to advanced diagnoses and treatments, while developing Hong Kong into an international hub for medical innovation.
Two new drugs approved
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The "1+" mechanism has been implemented since November 1, 2023, to facilitate the registration of new drugs used in the treatment of serious or rare diseases in Hong Kong. With effect from November 1, 2024, the mechanism was extended to cover all new drugs, including new chemical or biological entities, new indications, vaccines, and advanced therapy products. New drugs supported by local clinical data and recognised by local experts may apply for registration in Hong Kong by submitting evidence of approval from one reference drug regulatory authority (instead of two previously required).
The two new drugs mentioned above have been approved by the drug regulatory authority in the United States and submitted for registration under the "1+" mechanism. After evaluating the clinical data and relevant information provided by the applicant, and consulting local experts, the Registration Committee under the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong concluded that the drugs met the required standards of safety, efficacy, and quality, and approved their registration in Hong Kong. The Department of Health (DH) has notified the applicant of the approval result.
Paving the way towards primary evaluation
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Since the implementation of the "1+" mechanism, a total of 21 new drugs, including the two mentioned above, have been approved. Seven of these drugs have been listed in the Hospital Authority Drug Formulary (HADF), including two for cancer, one for haematological disease, two for hypercalcaemia, and two for anaemia caused by chronic kidney disease. Of these, six have been listed under the Special Drug" category of the HADF. When prescribed under specified clinical indications, patients are only required to pay the standard fee (i.e. $20 every four weeks), significantly reducing their financial burden and realising the concept of "good drugs for use in Hong Kong".
The DH has actively promoted the "1+" mechanism through various channels and has so far received more than 804 enquiries from over 207 pharmaceutical companies, including those from overseas and the Mainland. Many companies have expressed interest in submitting applications for registration of their products, including advanced therapy products, under the expanded "1+" mechanism. Since the launch of the pre-application consultation service in March last year, the DH has organised multiple briefing seminars and workshops, and introduced pre-application meetings in December last year to improve efficiency in processing applications.
The "1+" mechanism strengthens Hong Kong's drug approval capability and supports the development of related software, hardware and talent, paving the way for the implementation of "primary evaluation". The DH began the phased implementation of "primary evaluation" for new drug registration on March 31, 2026. The initial phase covers applications for the registration of drugs containing chemical entities already registered in Hong Kong, with extended applications such as new indications, new strengths, new posology, new dosages forms. The goal is to achieve full coverage of all pharmaceutical products by 2030, enabling Hong Kong to independently assess and approve the safety and efficacy of new drugs based on clinical data, thereby expediting the introduction of innovative medical products and realising the vision of "good drugs and medical devices for use in Hong Kong", benefitting patients.
The Chief Executive's 2025 Policy Address announced that the Government will accelerate reforms to the regulatory system for drugs and medical devices, consolidating Hong Kong's position as an international hub for medical innovation. The DH will expedite the "1+" mechanism for new drugs, piloting priority evaluation and approval of innovative drugs recommended by the Hospital Authority for the treatment of severe or rare diseases, thereby accelerating patient access to advanced therapies. By the end of 2026, the DH will establish the Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation to progressively build a robust approval system, providing strong momentum for the development and market expansion of the healthcare industry in Hong Kong, the Mainland, and beyond, transforming Hong Kong into an international hub for medical innovation.
Source: AI-found images
HKMoA's large-scale exhibition "Blooming: The Art of Gardens in East and West" unveils today
The "Blooming: The Art of Gardens in East and West" exhibition will be staged at the Hong Kong Museum of Art (HKMoA) starting from tomorrow (April 24). The exhibition features over 100 sets of selected paintings and artefacts from the Palace Museum in Beijing, the Art Institute of Chicago (AIC) in the United States, the Palace of Versailles in France and the HKMoA, presented together for the first time in Hong Kong, including paintings, prints, lacquerware, sculpture, ceramics and glassware, inviting visitors to explore the wonders and fun of gardens in the East and West from a fresh perspective.
Addressing the opening ceremony held today (April 23), the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, said that this touring exhibition, which began at the Palace Museum in 2025 and arrived in Hong Kong today, connects the regional culture of the East and West through historical gardens. The HKMoA, as the grand finale, will exclusively feature a selection of art treasures. The exhibition not only fully showcases the distinctive features of gardens from East and West and the rich cultural heritage from different regions, but also highlights Hong Kong's vital role as a window for mutual exchange and learning between Chinese and Western civilisations. She added that the country advocates "shaping tourism with cultural activities and promoting culture through tourism". Culture and tourism have always been highly complementary to each other. With Labour Day Golden Week approaching, she believes the exhibition will attract local art lovers and tourists, as well as boost consumption in the surrounding area.
Other officiating guests included Deputy Director of the Palace Museum Mr Wang Yuegong; the Deputy Chairman of the Institute of Philanthropy and Trustee of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, Mrs Ann Kung; the Pritzker Chair of Arts of Asia and the Executive Director of Initiatives in Asia of the AIC, Dr Wang Tao; the Chairman of the Art Sub-committee of the Museum Advisory Committee, Professor Desmond Hui; the Acting Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Miss Eve Tam; and the Museum Director of the HKMoA, Dr Maria Mok.
This exhibition serves as a guide to garden aesthetics. Curated around a central theme of garden landscaping and ingeniously using set designs by the curatorial team, the exhibition takes the audience on a journey through the threefold experience of garden landscaping, activities in the garden and the appreciation of artworks inspired by garden culture, allowing them to appreciate the grand gardens of kings and nobles, including Emperor Qianlong of theQing dynasty and King Louis XIV of France.
Highlight exhibits include the "Spring Ablution at the Orchid Pavilion" by Wen Zhengming, one of the "Four Masters of Wu School" from the Ming dynasty, which recreates the gathering at the Orchid Pavilion, a scene long celebrated through the calligraphy of Wang Xizhi of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, from the collection ofthe Palace Museum; the grandeur of imperial gardens in the Qing dynasty is reflected in the "Imperial Summer Resort", which integrates traditional blue-and-green painting features with Western perspective techniques; the "Nanxi Thatched Hall" by Ming dynasty painter Wen Boren, which depicts the ideal garden retreat of Jiangnan literati where the cottage blends seamlessly with nature;Monet's "Water Lilies" and "Water Lily Pond" from the AIC; and Zhang Daqian's "Entrance of Bade Garden" and "Splashed-colour Landscape" from the HKMoA's collection, highlighting the visions of two masters and offering visitors inspiration for garden design. Other highlight exhibits include "The Enceladus Fountain" and "The Water Theatre" from the Palace of Versailles.
Notable garden owners such as Emperor Qianlong, King Louis XIV of France, Claude Monet and Zhang Daqian "share" the stories behind the creation of their iconic gardens through audio guides and interactive kiosks. The exhibition features a scenographic recreation of the Orchid Pavilion Gathering in the education corner, enhanced with technology to provide visitors with an immersive experience. Through interactive engagement with a virtual wine cup, visitors can enjoy the beauty of blooming flowers. Furthermore, a DIY kit is included with the limited-edition exhibition pamphlet. Visitors can also download the instructions and additional paper patterns using the QR code on the pamphlet and design their ideal garden with their favourite elements, enriching the experience beyond their visit.
The exhibition will run from April 24 to July 29 at the Special Gallery on the second floor of the HKMoA (10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon). Admission is free. The exhibition is co-presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Palace Museum in partnership with the AIC, and is co-organised by the HKMoA and the Palace Museum in partnership with the AIC. It is exclusively sponsored by the Institute of Philanthropy.
To ensure a better visiting experience, crowd control measures for the exhibition will be implemented with flexibility. In the event of overcrowding, timed admission ticketing may be arranged. Visitors are advised to follow on-site notices and to stay updated through HKMoA's official website, Instagram, Facebookor VisitHKMuseums on Xiaohongshu.
The HKMoA will organise a series of special programmes, including guided tours, talks and workshops. The first talk from the "Zoom-in World Treasures" Talk Series will be held on April 25 at 2.30pm at The Hall at the HKMoA. The speaker, Senior Engineer of the Heritage Architecture Department of the Palace Museum, Ms Li Yue, will share her insights on Qianlong Garden: Art, Legacy and Conservation.
For details of the exhibition and activities, please visithk.art.museum/en/web/ma/exhibitions-and-events/blooming-the-art-of-gardens-in-east-and-west.html.
HKMoA's large-scale exhibition "Blooming: The Art of Gardens in East and West" unveils today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
HKMoA's large-scale exhibition "Blooming: The Art of Gardens in East and West" unveils today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
HKMoA's large-scale exhibition "Blooming: The Art of Gardens in East and West" unveils today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
HKMoA's large-scale exhibition "Blooming: The Art of Gardens in East and West" unveils today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
HKMoA's large-scale exhibition "Blooming: The Art of Gardens in East and West" unveils today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
HKMoA's large-scale exhibition "Blooming: The Art of Gardens in East and West" unveils today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
HKMoA's large-scale exhibition "Blooming: The Art of Gardens in East and West" unveils today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
HKMoA's large-scale exhibition "Blooming: The Art of Gardens in East and West" unveils today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
HKMoA's large-scale exhibition "Blooming: The Art of Gardens in East and West" unveils today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
HKMoA's large-scale exhibition "Blooming: The Art of Gardens in East and West" unveils today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
HKMoA's large-scale exhibition "Blooming: The Art of Gardens in East and West" unveils today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
