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The World Federation of Acupuncture-Moxibustion Societies (WFAS) from Beijing, Mainland China, announced today (April 15) that it has set up a joint clinic in Hong Kong with Pok Oi Hospital. The initiative is part of the federation’s plan to increase global awareness of traditional Chinese medical skills through Hong Kong.
The Director of the General Office of the WFAS (Hong Kong), Ms Liao Ying, said that the clinic has run in collaboration with Pok Oi Hospital since September 2012. There has been positive response from patients.
Ms Liao said that the federation wishes to ride on Hong Kong's unique advantage as a place where east meets west, using the city as a platform to promote the modernisation and globalisation of acupuncture. Founded in 1987, WFAS is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) and the World Health Organization (WHO)'s official partner on acupuncture. It aims to nurture understanding and co-operation among acupuncture-moxibustion groups around the world; enhance international academic exchanges and developments in acupuncture; and promote the global status and use of acupuncture in public health. WFAS' next step is to use Hong Kong as a platform to promote its qualification assessment examination and training globally.
The WFAS is the only external medical NGO approved by the State Council and recognised by the WHO as able to conduct qualification examinations for acupuncture practitioners around the world, except Mainland China. Ms Liao said, "Making the qualification examination available in Hong Kong would be convenient for examination candidates because the city is truly international and accessible by people from all over the world."
When WFAS President Professor Deng Liangyue opened the Causeway Bay clinic in September, he spoke of Hong Kong's advantages: "Hong Kong's unique location and global horizon not only have a strong effect on the international development of traditional Chinese medicine including acupuncture but the city's advanced culture of patient aftercare is also a very good example for the Mainland medical industry to learn from."
The Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion, Mr Charles Ng, welcomed the WFAS' arrival. "Hong Kong is not only an international hub of business but it is also chosen by renowned NGOs like the WFAS and many others as the base from which to reach out globally. I am delighted to see the WFAS choose Hong Kong and believe that our city will in turn help the federation's globalisation."
About WFAS
WFAS was founded in 1987 as an international academic organisation that was authorised by the State Council of People's Republic of China, and registered by the Ministry of Civil Administration. In 1998 it established non-governmental official relations with the World Health Organization. It has over 149 association members from 50 countries (areas), representing more than 200 000 acupuncturists. Its aims are to enforce strategy of the WHO on traditional medicine, provide a platform for the international exchange of acupuncture, establish the standards of acupuncture, organise international academic conferences and develop acupuncture education and publish journals. For more information, please visit: www.wfas.org.cn.
About Invest Hong Kong
Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) is the department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government established in July 2000 to take responsibility for Foreign Direct Investment and support overseas and Mainland businesses to set up or expand in Hong Kong. It provides free advice and customised services to help businesses succeed in Hong Kong's vibrant economy. As at December 2012, InvestHK had completed over 2 700 investment projects, creating more than 32 000 new jobs in the first year of operation or expansion and HK$69 billion of investment. For more information, please visit www.investhk.gov.hk.
For event photos, please visit: www.flickr.com/photos/investhk/sets/72157633245721531/.
Ends/Monday, April 15, 2013
Issued at HKT 15:37
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