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Following is the speech (English translation) by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong, at the Grand Opening Ceremony of the Yan Chai Hospital

Chinese Medicine Clinic cum Research Centre today (February 9):

Director Peng, Dr Leong, Chairman Yim, Professor Leung, Dr Ho, President Feng, Director Lu, dear guests, ladies and gentlemen,

First of all, at the beginning of the Lunar New Year, I would like to wish you good health and good luck in the Year of the Monkey! It is indeed my great pleasure to join you to attend the Grand Opening Ceremony of the Yan Chai Hospital Chinese Medicine Clinic cum Research Centre today.

Chinese medicine is one of the precious heritages of the Chinese culture. The application of Chinese medicine in disease prevention and treatment of illness is increasingly recognised and accepted by the general public.

Through years of hard work by all parties, I am encouraged to see that significant progress has been made in the development of Chinese medicine in Hong Kong. With the implementation of a registration system for proprietary Chinese medicine last December, we have put in place a statutory framework for the regulation of the practice, use, trading and manufacture of Chinese medicine in Hong Kong. The operation of three public Chinese medicine clinics since December last year is another milestone.

The Government has committed to introducing Chinese medicine in the healthcare system, initially in the form of out-patient services. The provision of Chinese medicine in the public sector helps promote the development of "evidence-based" Chinese medicine practice through clinical research, and systematises the knowledge base of Chinese medicine. It also helps develop standards in Chinese medicine practice and develop models of interface between western and Chinese medicine.

The Yan Chai Hospital has been making valuable contributions to the community through its multi-faceted services to the public. Today, I am pleased to see that the Yan Chai Hospital is one of the first to collaborate with the Hospital Authority and the Chinese University of Hong Kong to operate a Chinese Medicine Clinic cum Research Centre to provide Chinese medicine services to the public as well as to conduct research and training in Chinese medicine.

Lastly, I congratulate the Yan Chai Hospital on the successful opening of the Chinese Medicine Clinic cum Research Centre. I have no doubt that it will play a major role in contributing to the development of Chinese medicine in Hong Kong. Thank you.

Ends/Monday, February 9, 2004

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