The 7th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) Conference on the Inheritance, Innovation, and Development of Traditional Chinese Medicine was held in Hong Kong for the first time today (December 2). About 800 Chinese Medicine (CM) experts, academics, health officials and industry representatives from Hong Kong, the Mainland, Macao and overseas attended the Conference to exchange views on the future direction of the global development of traditional medicine, clinical services and scientific research development of CM, modernisation research of traditional medicine, and Chinese medicines (CMs) standards.  

     Distinguished guests for the opening session included the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau; the World Health Organization Regional Director for the Western Pacific, Dr Saia Ma'u Piukala; the Director General of the Science and Technology Department of the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Mr Chen Ronghu; the Deputy Director-General of the Health Commission of Guangdong Province and Director of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Bureau of Guangdong Province (TCMBGD), Mr Qiu Yahong; the Director of the Health Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region (Macao SAR) Government, Dr Lo Iek-long; and the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam.

     Before the start of the Conference, all participants stood up and observed a moment of silence to mourn the victims of the Tai Po fire. In his opening remarks, Professor Lo expressed particular condolences for the victims and the deceased fireman, as well as extended sympathies to their families and affected residents. He also paid tribute to the personnel who took part in the rescue mission, in particular firefighters, police officers and healthcare colleagues, and wished the injured a speedy recovery. "Healthcare is vital to people's lives and well-being, as well as national security. In the face of major sudden disasters, Hong Kong's public healthcare system has taken up the primary responsibility of emergency response and treatment. The Health Bureau is co-ordinating the efforts of both public and private medical sectors to provide comprehensive healthcare protection to the injured and all affected residents," he stressed. 

     This year's Conference has its theme of "Greater Bay Area: Traditional Medicine, Global Vision". Professor Lo said, "CM experts from various regions gathered at the Conference to explore fostering CM to go global with the collaborative innovation strengths of the GBA, with a view to contributing to the health of all mankind. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has long been committed to promoting the development of CM and assisting the national drive for CM to go global. Among them, two flagship institutions for CM development, namely The Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong (CMHHK) and the permanent premises of the Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute, will commence services on December 11. They will help drive the development of CM services, professional training, scientific research and innovation, standard-setting, and international co-operation, demonstrating the value and strengths of CM to the world. Furthermore, the CM Development Blueprint will also be released to set out a clear direction for CM development in Hong Kong, with a view to fostering high-quality and high-standard development of CM on all fronts."

     Themed "Global Development of Traditional Medicine: Policy Support, Research and Innovation, and Regional Collaboration", the plenary forum of the Conference explored how scientific innovation and cross-regional collaboration can facilitate the deeper integration of traditional medicine into modern healthcare systems. Three parallel forums were held afterwards to discuss (1) CM services, including CM-predominant clinical services and its scientific research development, standardisation of CM services, and the establishment of CMHHK; (2) modernisation research on traditional medicine, covering herbal medicine quality standards, clinical evidence for traditional medicine, and interactions between herbal and pharmaceutical substances; and (3) the development of CMs standardisation, including CMs standards research and setting, challenges in applying CMs standards in practice, and feasibility of inter-regional harmonisation. At the Conference, CMHHK signed strategic collaboration agreements with various provincial-level hospitals and international institutions, and multiple CM co-operation projects within the GBA were also signed.

     At the closing session of the Conference, the Under Secretary for Health, Dr Cecilia Fan, delivered concluding remarks. The next conference will be hosted by the Macao SAR Government.

     The Conference was jointly organised by the Health Bureau, the TCMBGD, and the Health Bureau of the Macao SAR Government, with the Department of Health, the Hospital Authority and CMHHK as co-organisers.

Ends/Tuesday, December 2, 2025
Issued at HKT 17:30

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