Hong Kong Launches Inaugural Hong Kong Global Summit on Chinese Medicine and Integrative Medicine to Foster International Medical Collaboration

Hong Kong Global Summit on Chinese Medicine and Integrative Medicine opens today

The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, officiated at the opening ceremony of the inaugural Hong Kong Global Summit on Chinese Medicine and Integrative Medicine today (July 4). Organised by the Health Bureau and hosted by The Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong (CMHHK), the two-day summit themed "Holistic Care, Inspiring Teaching, Innovative Research" brings together local, Mainland and international experts and scholars to explore the development of Chinese medicine (CM) and integrative medicine and to foster cross-regional collaborations.

Professor Lo; Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and National Medicine Master Professor Wang Qi; Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering Professor Zhu Liguo; National Medicine Master Professor Zhou Daihan; the Responsible Person of the Social Development Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Ye Shuiqiu; the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of CMHHK Operator, Mr Wong Kwai-huen, and the Hospital Chief Executive of CMHHK, Professor Bian Zhaoxiang, jointly inaugurated the summit today. The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for the Western Pacific, Dr Saia Ma'u Piukala, also delivered a video speech to wish the summit great success.

Professor Lo said, "This summit provides an ideal environment to drive the development of traditional interventions towards evidence-based medicine, bringing together local, Mainland, and international experts to share their practical experience and research findings, and fostering cross-regional collaborations. Looking forward, we will continue to leverage Hong Kong's unique advantages of having strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world under the 'one country, two systems' principle to better integrate into and serve the overall national development, while strengthening Hong Kong's important role as the international gateway that supports CM to go global and contributes to the national development of CM."

Professor Lo announced, "To meet keen public demand and prepare for the launch of 24-hour inpatient services this December, CMHHK will, with effect from today, increase the quota for government-subsidised outpatient services for the fourth time. It is expected that the total service volume in its first year of operation will more than double the original plan. Moreover, starting this month, CMHHK will launch a series of special disease programmes. The hospital will first introduce post-stroke care and low back pain care, with a view to developing a 'Hong Kong model' for integrated Chinese-Western medicine services (ICWM)."

During the summit, CMHHK also implemented the establishment of partnership with hospitals from four provinces and municipalities on the Mainland, namely Beijing Municipality, Shanghai Municipality, Henan Province and Foshan of Guangdong Province. CMHHK has earlier entered into 16 collaboration agreements with local universities, key hospitals from Mainland provinces and municipalities, as well as international institutions. CMHHK will continue to take forward its development strategy of promoting cross-regional and multi-institutional collaborations in an orderly manner.

In addition, CMHHK took the lead at today's summit in establishing the Preparatory Committee for the International Consortium of Herb-Drug Interaction, marking a crucial step forward in fostering international research collaboration on herb-drug interactions and promoting the development of integrative medicine. The Preparatory Committee comprises representatives from multiple local, Mainland and international (including Australia, Germany, Korea and Malaysia) institutions, laying the foundation for the establishment of the International Consortium of Herb-Drug Interaction (Consortium).

Professor Lo said, "The establishment of the Consortium will drive the development of evidence-based information on herb-drug interactions, enhancing the safety and efficiency of healthcare practices in ICWM services while providing guidance to clinical practice in concurrent use of herbal medicines and conventional drug. I am delighted to see CMHHK taking the lead in establishing the Preparatory Committee today. I look forward to the Preparatory Committee bringing together the expertise and strengths of different regions and institutions, with a view to the official launch of the Consortium next year."

The summit is being held at CMHHK in both physical and online formats today and tomorrow, with over 40 experts, scholars and industry leaders from various fields locally (including the Hospital Authority and local universities), on the Mainland (including Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shanghai and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area) and overseas (including the United States, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Germany and Korea) serving as guest speakers. They include Academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, National Medicine Masters, National Famous Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and representatives of the WHO, who will share their insights on topics such as clinical experience in specialised diseases, herb-drug interactions, and CM practicum and clinical training. For more information, please visit the CMHHK website.

The Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong (CMHHK) established strategic collaboration agreements with Chinese medicine hospitals in Shanghai Municipality and Henan Province during the Hong Kong Global Summit on Chinese Medicine and Integrative Medicine. Photo shows the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau (centre); the Responsible Person of the Social Development Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Ye Shuiqiu (third right); Second-level Inspector of the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission Mr Liu Hua (second left); Second-level Inspector of the Henan Provincial Health Commission Mr Zhang Jianfeng (second right); the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of CMHHK Operator, Mr Wong Kwai-huen (third left); the Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and the President of the Longhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Professor Chen Xinlin (first left), and the President of the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Professor Wang Haifeng (first right), at the opening ceremony today (July 4). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, officiated at the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong Global Summit on Chinese Medicine and Integrative Medicine today (July 4) to launch the summit. Photo shows Professor Lo (centre); Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and National Medicine Master Professor Wang Qi (third left); Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering Professor Zhu Liguo (third right); National Medicine Master Professor Zhou Daihan (second left); the Responsible Person of the Social Development Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Ye Shuiqiu (second right); the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of The Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong Operator, Mr Wong Kwai-huen (first left), and the Hospital Chief Executive of The Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong, Professor Bian Zhaoxiang (first right), at the ceremony. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, speaks at the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong Global Summit on Chinese Medicine and Integrative Medicine today (July 4). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Preparatory Committee for the International Consortium of Herb-Drug Interaction announced its establishment and held its inaugural meeting today (July 4) at the Hong Kong Global Summit on Chinese Medicine and Integrative Medicine. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs arrests financial manager and administrative manager of beauty company

Hong Kong Customs conducted an enforcement operation today (August 19) to combat unfair trade practices by beauty companies. An investigation was launched into a retailer suspected of engaging in aggressive commercial practices when selling skincare products and beauty devices. During the operation, a financial manager and an administrative manager of the company involved were arrested for suspected violations of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (the Ordinance). The investigation is ongoing, and the possibility of further arrests is not ruled out.

Customs once again appeals to customers who suspect they have been subjected to such unfair trade practices to contact Customs as soon as possible.

Customs reminds traders that they must comply with the requirements of the Ordinance, and advises consumers to patronize reputable merchants. Consumers should remain calm before purchasing services or products. If they do not fully understand the product details and prices, or do not wish to make a purchase, they should firmly refuse to sign any sales documents or make any payments.

Under the Ordinance, any trader who uses harassment, coercion, or undue influence to restrict or impair a consumer's freedom of choice or conduct, thereby causing the consumer to make a transactional decision, commits the offense of aggressive commercial practices. Upon conviction, the maximum penalty is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

Customs has always attached great importance to consumer rights protection and has zero tolerance for unfair trade practices, pledging to continue its stringent enforcement action against unscrupulous traders.

Members of the public who encounter unfair trade practices or suspect a trader has violated the Ordinance should report it as soon as possible by calling the Customs 24-hour hotline at 182 8080, or via the crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or the online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Source: AI-found images