***********************************
The Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, will depart for London, the United Kingdom (UK), early tomorrow (May 16) for a duty visit regarding the regulation of doctors' professional practice and medical devices, as well as to learn more about the UK's development of authentication and certification services for Chinese medicine. After visiting London, Dr Ko will attend the 67th World Health Assembly (WHA) of the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland.
While in London, Dr Ko will pay a visit to the General Medical Council, which serves as an independent regulator of UK doctors and follows up on serious cases of professional misconduct that may affect doctors' registration. He will also call on the Chairman of the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), Sir Gordon Duff. The MHRA is a UK government agency responsible for the regulation of medicines and medical devices and equipment used in healthcare procedures.
Dr Ko will also visit the Royal Botanic Gardens (Kew Gardens) in London. He will tour the laboratories and medicinal plants in the garden to learn more about the Chinese medicine authentication and certification services there.
He will leave London for Geneva on May 18 (London time) to attend the 67th WHA on May 19 (Geneva time) as a member of the China delegation. Dr Ko will arrive back in Hong Kong on the afternoon of May 20.
Ends/Thursday, May 15, 2014
Issued at HKT 11:30
NNNN
