The Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong (CMHHK) and the Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute (GCMTI) held the "Flagship in Motion · Connecting the World" Launch Ceremony today (January 13). The ceremony was officiated by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee. A number of national officials, as well as over 300 guests, including representatives from the local Chinese and Western medicine sectors and Members of the Legislative Council, attended to jointly witness Hong Kong entering a new stage in the development of Chinese medicine (CM).

     The Minister of the National Health Commission, Mr Lei Haichao; the Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Zhou Ji; the Commissioner of the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ms Yu Yanhong; the Director General of the Fifth Bureau of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Zhao Xudong; and the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, joined the Chief Executive in hosting the plaque-unveiling ceremony. 

     Delivering his speech, Mr Lee said, "The official launch of CMHHK and the GCMTI initiates the building of a CM ecosystem in Hong Kong connecting academic institutions with hospitals and linking scientific research to industry. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government is actively aligning with national strategies by fully integrating into and serving the overall national development of CM. The HKSAR Government is committed to promoting the high-quality development of CM, fully leveraging Hong Kong's unique advantages of enjoying the strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world under the 'one country, two systems' principle to establish Hong Kong as a bridgehead for CM to go global. I hope that the CM sector in Hong Kong will innovate from inheritance and develop through innovations, with a view to making greater contributions to the health of all mankind."

     Mr Lei said, "The National Health Commission and the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine are fully promoting the role of CM in prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and innovation, talent training and more. They are also promoting the establishment of integrated centres emphasising both Chinese and Western medicine at National Medical Centers and Regional Medical Centers, strengthening the talent pool of 'Western doctors learning CM', deepening clinical collaboration between Chinese and Western medicine for major and complex diseases, and improving the service system integrating Chinese and Western medicine."

     Professor Lo said, "The commencement of services of the two flagship institutions for CM development in phases last month is conducive to Hong Kong's further development in areas such as CM clinical services, talent training, and testing standards. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the National Health Commission and the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine for their continuous strong support for CM development in Hong Kong, as well as the support from the Hong Kong CM sector and relevant stakeholders for the development of these two projects."

The Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong

     Located at 1 Pak Shing Kok Road in Tseung Kwan O, CMHHK occupies a site of about 42 900 square metres. CMHHK adopts a public-private partnership model, with its construction fully funded by the Government. The Government commissioned Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) as the contractor to set up an operator in accordance with the service deed to manage, operate, and maintain the hospital. CMHHK commenced services in phases from December 11 last year, providing outpatient and day-patient services in the first year. Upon full operation, it will provide 400 beds, and the outpatient services are expected to serve about 400 000 attendances annually. The hospital will focus on developing six specialised CM services, namely Internal Medicine in CM, External Medicine in CM, Gynaecology in CM, Paediatrics in CM, Orthopaedics and Traumatology in CM, and Acupuncture and Moxibustion in CM, as well as 12 special disease programmes covering areas such as elderly degenerative diseases, infertility, and chronic skin diseases. There is keen public demand for the hospital's services. In the first month of operation, the booking rate for subsidised general outpatient services was 100 per cent, the booking rate for subsidised specialised outpatient services exceeded 90 per cent, and the booking rate for non-subsidised outpatient services was close to 70 per cent.

     As the CM teaching hospital for three local universities with schools of Chinese medicine, namely HKBU, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and the University of Hong Kong, CMHHK is dedicated to promoting CM teaching, training, and research innovation. In addition to providing comprehensive clinical training and advanced training opportunities for CM undergraduate and postgraduate students as well as in-service CM practitioners, the hospital's Clinical Trial and Research Centre will support clinical research and the development of proprietary Chinese medicines. It will give full play to its role as a "change-driver", working closely with the CM sector and stakeholders to promote CM to go global.

The Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute

     Established by the Department of Health in March 2017, the GCMTI is dedicated to establishing internationally recognised reference standards and testing methods for Chinese medicines. It also actively promotes the popularisation of CM culture and continues to deepen exchanges and collaboration with Mainland and international organisations to strengthen the global influence and credibility of CM. The temporary facility of the GCMTI at the Hong Kong Science Park has completed numerous special projects, including various globally leading testing and identification technologies for Chinese medicines. Furthermore, the GCMTI attaches great importance to building a talent pool, gathering elite talent from multidisciplinary backgrounds to inject continuous momentum into leading the future development of Chinese medicines, and contributing to the standardisation and internationalisation of Chinese medicines.

     The permanent building of the GCMTI commenced operation in phases last month. The building occupies a site of about 17 200 sq m and features various important facilities, including four specialties of advanced laboratories equipped with over 3 300 pieces of laboratory equipment and information technology equipment, the Chinese Medicines Herbarium and Laboratories, which is the first of its kind in Hong Kong to provide guided tour services, as well as an International Collaboration and Training Centre. These facilities will support the GCMTI in developing more novel testing methods for Chinese medicines and, through technology transfer and local and international co-operation and exchange, promote the high-quality advancement of CM to go global. The building also features an outdoor Shennong Herbal Garden of about 700 sq m. It is the first botanical garden in Hong Kong themed on Lingnan medicinal plants, showcasing about 180 species of medicinal plants.

Ends/Tuesday, January 13, 2026
Issued at HKT 16:30

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