Chinese medicine has a long history in Hong Kong. Professor Feng Yibin, Dean of the School of Chinese Medicine at the University of Hong Kong, believes that the development of Chinese medicine has gradually improved after the reunification, and the foundation has been established and steadily developed in terms of regulation, scientific research and education, and the construction of a primary medical network of Chinese medicine.

Mr Fung pointed out that Hong Kong can play an important role in promoting the modernisation and internationalisation of Chinese medicine due to its advantages such as a sound talent training system, high degree of internationalisation, strong R&D and innovation capability, and market connectivity between China and the rest of the world. Ta Kung Pao reporter Tsang Min-min

Mr Fung Yi-bing, who came to Hong Kong 23 years ago, described himself as having caught up with a good opportunity for the development of Chinese medicine in Hong Kong because after the reunification of Hong Kong, the SAR Government has continuously "stepped up" its efforts to promote the development of Chinese medicine and achieved results in many aspects.

For example, in terms of personnel training, after the reunification of Hong Kong, three traditional Chinese medicine colleges were established to form a complete bachelor's, master's and doctoral education system, as well as a lifelong education system, which ensured the supply and sustainable development of Chinese medicine talents in Hong Kong.

In terms of medical services, the Government has promoted the establishment of 18 tripartite Chinese medicine clinics and teaching and research centres, laying the foundation for a primary Chinese medicine medical network, and the Hong Kong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, which is under construction and will be put into operation in 2025, will gradually diversify Chinese medicine health care and medical services.

Mr Fung highlighted Hong Kong's research and development capabilities, noting that five universities in Hong Kong are ranked among the top 100 in the world, there is a strong and intensive community of scientists who have published a large number of international papers, applied for and granted a large number of domestic and international patents, the standard of Chinese medicine research is world-class, and many researchers have been selected for several world-class ranking systems.

Feng Yibin believes that Hong Kong, backed by the motherland, has long been the distribution center of the mainland and international Chinese medicinal materials market, forming some famous Chinese medicine brands, and the life science research level is world-class, the use of bilingual and trilingual, the legal and medical system is similar to that of Western countries.

The regulatory system for Chinese medicine has also been basically established, so the achievements of Chinese medicine education, medical treatment, research, development and utilization are more easily recognized and accepted by the international community. Hong Kong can play an important role in promoting the modernization and internationalization of Chinese medicine.

However, Mr Fung expressed concern about the small scale of Chinese medicine education and research bases and facilities in Hong Kong, the lack of formal integration of Chinese medicine health care and medical services into the public health and medical system, and the small scale of the Chinese medicine industry, which are not conducive to the development of Chinese medicine, and proposed targeted solutions.

Regarding the small scale of the medical market, he believes that Hong Kong should combine the national development strategy, in the "Belt and Road", the Greater Bay Area and even the international market layout, under the premise of market economy, promote some Chinese medicine health care and medical services into the Hong Kong public health and medical system, and can also cooperate with Chinese medicine manufacturers to promote the sustainable development of medical economy.

He is also concerned about the insufficient conversion of research results and believes that the research and application of Chinese medicine standards should be coordinated and strengthened, such as how Chinese medicine testing should be selected and certified in the Hong Kong Chinese Medicine Standards, the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, pharmacopoeia of different countries and international standards.