On August 5th, the International Summit on Chinese Medicine opened in Hong Kong. At the open ceremony, the Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mrs. Carrie Lam stated that, Hong Kong Government has been promoting the development of Chinese Medicine in Hong Kong.

According to the report from Takungpao, Mrs. Carrie Lam said, a HK$ 500 million funding in this year’s budget was proposed by the Hong Kong Government to support the development of the Chinese Medicine industry, including implementing the recommendations from Chinese Medicine Development Committee and preparing for the first Chinese Medicine hospital in Hong Kong. 

And she also said the government would continue to promote the collaborative pilot program of Chinese and Western medicine integration in seven public hospitals administered by Hospital Authority, expand the research on the Hong Kong Standards for Chinese Medicinal Materials, and set up a governmental herbal medicinals testing center managed by the Department of Health etc. 　

from Hong Kong Media

Mrs. Carrie Lam stated, the Hong Kong Government had constituted a team to develop Chinese Medicine (CM) in the Food and Health Bureau in May that year, to get CM established in the public medical system, accordingly plan for the operation mode of Hong Kong CM hospitals and keep closer tie with the industry.

And she said, a HK$ 500 million funding in this year’s budget proposed by the Hong Kong Government to support the development of the Chinese Medicine industry, including supporting clinical research and CM department development, promoting knowledge exchange and cross-market cooperation, and assisting local herbal medicinals manufacturers in the production and proprietary Chinese medicines registration.

 “We will make full use of the advantages of Chinese Medicine, and strenghthen its position in Hong Kong’s medical system.”

from Hong Kong Media

    It was reported that the summit was organized by the Hong Kong Registered Chinese Medicine Practitioners Association, with famous Chinese Medicine practitioners and experts from mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, USA, Britain, Germany and Australia in attendance all here to discuss inheriting traditional Chinese medicine culture as well as exploring the newly a therapeutic advantages.

The following is Mrs. Carrie Lam’s complete speech (from the official website of Hong Kong Government)

Mrs. QIU Hong, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr. WANG Guo-qiang, President of China association of Chinese Medicine and Former Commissioner of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, P.R. China, Mr. MA Jian-zhong, Vice Commissioner of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, P.R.C, Dr. ZHANG Qi, Director of Traditional and Complementary Medicine Unit (TCM) of WHO, Professor FENG Jiu, Chairman of Hong Kong International Summit on Chinese Medicine Association, and professions in the field of Chinese Medicine, 

Good morning, everyone! It is a great honor for me to attend the International Summit on Chinese Medicine in Hong Kong today. First, let me thank the Hong Kong Registered Chinese Medicine Practitioners Association for organizing this event, which invited famous experts and scholars from all over the world, including those from the Mainland, Hong Kong, Macao, the United States, Britain, Germany and Australia, all here to discuss how to "inherit the culture of traditional Chinese medicine and explore new therapeutic advantages". 

I still remember not long after I was elected Chief Executive, I met with some CM experts in Hong Kong which includes professor FENG Jiu. At that time, he suggested that an international forum on CM could be held in Hong Kong. I agreed with him and accepted his suggestion. Hong Kong has been a place where international forums are always held, and Chinese Medicine has also been an advantage of Hong Kong. So, I’m very happy to be here today. 

Chinese medicine is the treasure of Chinese traditional culture and health preservation. CM has always played an important role in treating and preventing diseases, and has been recognized by the international community. Therefore, it is a well worth of inheriting, developing and promoting. The thirteenth Five-Year Plan also mentions that, it is necessary to deepen the reform of CM, improve primary CM service and informatization of CM and other fields. 

The government has actively promoted the development of CM in Hong Kong. Since returning to the country, we have continuously promoted the development of policies and regulations, personnel training, scientific research and innovation, and Chinese medicine services. At the meantime, we also popularize the long-standing culture and benefits of CM by encouraging academic exchanges, health lectures, advertisements, exhibitions activities and something like these. The present government has put the development of CM in HK one of our priorities. We will implement the recommendations from Chinese Medicine Development Committee, including preparing for the first CM hospital in Hong Kong, continuously promoting the collaborative pilot program of Chinese and Western medicine in seven public hospitals administered by the Hospital Authority, expanding the research on the Hong Kong Standards for CM Materials, and setting up a governmental herbal medicinals testing center managed by the Department of Health etc.

In order to implement strategies and measures that fits in with the long-term development needs of local CM industry harder and more effectively, the government has constituted a team to develop Chinese Medicine (CM) in the Food and Health Bureau in May this year, in order to get CM established in the public medical system, accordingly plan for the operation mode of Hong Kong CM hospitals and keep closer tie with the industry. In addition, a HK$ 500 million funding in this year’s budget was proposed by the Hong Kong Government to support the development of the Chinese Medicine industry, including supporting clinical research and CM department development, promoting knowledge exchange and cross-market cooperation, and assisting local herbal medicinals manufacturers in the production and proprietary Chinese medicines registration. We wish that through the above work, in the future, we can make full use of the advantages of Chinese Medicine, and strengthen its position in Hong Kong’s medical system.

To strengthen the development of traditional Chinese medicine, innovation and technology are indispensable. It is obvious to all that the present government has greatly promoted science and technology, and we made some achievements in the last year. One of the two technology innovation platforms we have set up in Hong Kong Science Park is the Medical Science and Technology Innovation Platform. These measures will give greater impetus for the developing local Chinese Medicine.　　

    As the first large international Chinese medicine event in Hong Kong, this summit will give some new enlightenment for the Hong Kong Government to explore the development of Chinese medicine. I wish the summit a complete success and take this opportunity to thank the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, P.R. China for its support to the work of the Government all along the time as well as the Chinese medicine experts for their persistent efforts over the years to continuously improve the level of CM service. At last, I wish you all good health and smooth work. Thank you.