Secretary for Health Meets Commissioner of National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine to Discuss Strategies for Advancing Chinese Medicine Development

Secretary for Health meets Commissioner of National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine

The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, met with the Vice Minister of the National Health Commission and Commissioner of the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (NATCM), Mr Liu Jinfeng, and his delegation today (September 24) to have in-depth discussions and exchanges on promoting the development of Chinese medicine (CM).

During the meeting, Professor Lo expressed sincere gratitude to the NATCM for its staunch support and guidance to the development of CM in Hong Kong over the years. He said, "The National 15th Five-Year Plan Outline proposes advancing the inheritance and innovation of CM and promoting CM to go global. The First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030) (Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan) announced by the Chief Executive last week comprehensively and proactively aligns with the National 15th Five-Year Plan Outline, clearly setting out the principle of promoting high-quality and high-standard development of CM on all fronts. The Chief Executive's 2026 Policy Address released on the same day also highlights various policy measures to drive CM development. Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan and the 2026 Policy Address are interconnected and complement each other in advancing the long-term CM development in Hong Kong.

"Adhering to the direction and objectives of Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan and based on the Chinese Medicine Development Blueprint released last December, Hong Kong will fully leverage the two flagship institutions, namely The Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong (CMHHK) and the Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute (GCMTI), to promote development in CM services, research collaboration, talent training and formulation of standards. This will advance the development of CM in Hong Kong, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) as well as overseas, thereby helping Hong Kong develop into a bridgehead for the global expansion of CM, deeply advancing the development CM highlands in the GBA and contributing to the overall national CM development. Looking ahead, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will continue to leverage Hong Kong's strengths to serve the country’s needs, supporting the revitalisation and development of CM in the country."

At the meeting, representatives of the NATCM also discussed with representatives from the Health Bureau, the Department of Health, the Hospital Authority (HA) and CMHHK on topics including CM services, CM education, Chinese medicines development, and the strengthening of CM collaboration between the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong.

Accompanied by the Under Secretary for Health, Dr Cecilia Fan, and the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam,the delegation visited CMHHK, the permanent premises of the GCMTI, and the HA integrated Chinese-Western medicine programme on stroke care in Shatin Hospital during its visit to Hong Kong to gain a deeper understanding of the latest development of CM in Hong Kong and the operations of various institutions.

The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, meets with the Vice Minister of the National Health Commission and Commissioner of the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Mr Liu Jinfeng, and his delegation today (September 24). Photo shows Professor Lo (front row, fourth left); Mr Liu (front row, fourth right); the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam (front row, third right), and other attendees of the meeting. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau (fourth right), meets with the Vice Minister of the National Health Commission and Commissioner of the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Mr Liu Jinfeng (fifth left), and his delegation today (September 24) to have in-depth discussions and exchanges on promoting the development of Chinese medicine. Also in attendance is the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam (fifth right). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Secretary for Health meets Commissioner of National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Secretary for Health meets Commissioner of National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Secretary for Health meets Commissioner of National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Secretary for Health meets Commissioner of National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Secretary for Health meets Commissioner of National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detects smuggling case involving ocean-going vessel with suspected endangered species worth about $100 million seized

Hong Kong Customs detected a suspected smuggling case involving an ocean-going vessel on October 24. Large batches of suspected smuggled endangered species goods with a total estimated market value of about $100 million were seized.

Through intelligence analysis and risk assessment, Customs officers inspected four containers on October 24 that were scheduled to be shipped to Korea and declared as carrying seafood and, upon examination, found large batches of smuggled endangered species goods, including scheduled shark fins, shark skins, crocodile skins, sea dragons, mobula gill plates and sea cucumbers.

Investigations are ongoing. The likelihood of arrests is not ruled out.

Being a government department primarily responsible for tackling smuggling activities, Customs has long been combating various smuggling activities at the forefront. Customs will keep up its enforcement action and continue to resolutely combat sea smuggling activities through proactive risk management and intelligence-based enforcement strategies, and carry out targeted anti-smuggling operations at suitable times to crack down on relevant crimes.

Smuggling of scheduled endangered species is a serious offence. Under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance, anyone importing, exporting or possessing specimens of endangered species not in accordance with the Ordinance commits an offence and will be liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for 10 years upon conviction.

Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Hong Kong Customs detected a suspected smuggling case involving an ocean-going vessel on October 24. Large batches of suspected smuggled endangered species goods with a total estimated market value of about $100 million were seized. Photo shows some of the suspected scheduled crocodile skins seized. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detected a suspected smuggling case involving an ocean-going vessel on October 24. Large batches of suspected smuggled endangered species goods with a total estimated market value of about $100 million were seized. Photo shows some of the suspected scheduled shark fins seized. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detected a suspected smuggling case involving an ocean-going vessel on October 24. Large batches of suspected smuggled endangered species goods with a total estimated market value of about $100 million were seized. Photo shows some of the suspected smuggled endangered species goods seized. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases