​To mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Department of Health (DH) organised the Inheritance and Innovation of the Chinese Medicine Cultural Treasure - National Survey of Chinese Materia Medica Resources (Hong Kong Region) Activity Day (Activity Day) today (September 22) with a view to facilitating the Chinese medicine sector and the public to learn more about the medicinal plant resources in Hong Kong, as well as promoting the culture of Chinese medicine.

     The Activity Day had a variety of events. In addition to the launching ceremony held at the Peak Galleria in Central, the Activity Day also included an exhibition under the theme of "Abundance of medicinal herbs in green mountains, Immergence of Chinese medicine in daily life", and guided tours led by professionals on medicinal plant along Harlech walking trail at the Peak to learn about the medicinal plants in the countryside. The Activity Day was joined by over 120 representatives of Chinese medicine sector and students studying in the field of Chinese medicine.

     Officiating at the launching ceremony of the Activity Day, the Vice Commissioner of the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (NATCM), Dr Wang Zhiyong, remarked that," The Activity Day has showcased the impressive results of the Fourth National Survey of Chinese Materia Medica Resources (Hong Kong Region), which paves the way for the continuing development of the Chinese medicine industry. Once again, I thank you all professionals, experts and colleagues for their great efforts and contribution for conducting the Survey. Taking the opportunity of the Activity Day, the NATCM will continue to provide strong support on the construction of the Government Chinese Medicine Testing Institute (GCMTI) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, innovation and transformation of the Chinese materia medica and Chinese medicine industries, and continuing high-quality development of the Chinese medicine industry."

     Also speaking at the launching ceremony, the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam, said, "I am most grateful for the NATCM's support for the development of Chinese medicine in Hong Kong. Chinese medicine resources are the material foundation of the development of Chinese material medica industry, as well as the Chinese medicine sector. They are also the strategic resources of the country. By conducting the Survey of Chinese Materia Medica Resources, Hong Kong is enabled to preserve and make use of Chinese materia medica resources more effectively; support the inheritance and innovative development of Chinese medicine; and provide a solid foundation for the scientific and modernised development of Chinese medicine, thereby facilitating the local Chinese medicine to better integrate into the overall development of Chinese medicine of the country. In the future, the Government will proactively implement the spirit of Third Plenary Session of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee, and will strenuously work in line with the objective of deepening Chinese medicine reform, by pursuing the inheritance and innovation development mechanism of Chinese medicine, as well as deepening the reform regarding the mechanism of development of Chinese medicine talents, thereby promoting the high-quality development of the Chinese medicine industry, so as to contribute to the construction of China as a strong country in science and technology, and the building of a healthy China, and a healthy Hong Kong."

     "By participating in today's activities, I hope that the Chinese medicine industry and the youth could learn more about medicinal plant resources in Hong Kong and Chinese medicine culture, which in turn enhance our esteem on Chinese culture," Dr Lam added.

     After the launching ceremony, Dr Wang and the NATCM delegation, accompanied by Dr Lam, appreciated the medicinal plants in the countryside along Harlech walking trail, including species recorded in the publication "Hong Kong Characteristic Medicinal Plants" such as Pavettahongkongensis Bremek., Cibotiumbarometz(L.) J. Sm., and Ficus hirta Vahl.

     Upon invitation by the NATCM in 2022, the HKSAR Government took part in the "Fourth National Survey of Chinese Materia Medica Resources". The DH has completed the first phase of the Survey, and submitted the "Preliminary List of Chinese Materia Medica Resources in Hong Kong" (The list) to the NATCM. The list contains more than 1 250 species of medicinal plants, involving more than 190 families and 800 genera. The list has been reviewed and confirmed by the National Survey of Chinese Materia Medica Resources Office of the National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica under the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences and has now become part of the "Checklist of Chinese Materia Medica Resources in China". Besides, 50 medicinal plants with Hong Kong characteristics were selected from the list by experts and representatives from the local Chinese medicine sector and compiled into the publication "Hong Kong Characteristic Medicinal Plants". The publication has been listed in the "Encyclopedia of Chinese Materia Medica Resources" series by the National Survey of Chinese Materia Medica Resources Office. 

     The scope of the Survey of Chinese Materia Medica Resources (Hong Kong Region) includes: compilation of the list of Chinese materia medica resources in Hong Kong, conducting research into the Chinese materia medica market and investigation into traditional knowledge, and conducting field surveys of medicinal plant resources. At present, the first phase of work has been completed. The DH will continue to work with the School of Chinese Medicine of Hong Kong Baptist University to carry out the second and third phases of work of the Survey, with the professional support of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department. The deliverables will be compiled as "An Illustrated Treatise on the Chinese Materia Medica Resources in Hong Kong" for publication, in which the findings will serve as an essential database for the regulation of Chinese medicine in Hong Kong, as well as the preservation, development and rational utilisation of Chinese materia medica resources in Hong Kong. In addition, through long-term preservation of physical specimens obtained from the Survey, this will enrich the collection of the Chinese Medicine Herbarium Laboratory of the GCMTI, and providing support for future Chinese medicine research and the sustainable use of resources.

Ends/Sunday, September 22, 2024
Issued at HKT 15:05

NNNN