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DH investigates suspected illegal sale and possession of unregistered proprietary Chinese medicine (with photo)

     The Department of Health (DH) is today (January 2) investigating a licensed manufacturer of proprietary Chinese medicine (pCm), Singapore Headway Medicine Co (Singapore Headway), at Wo Tong Tsui Street, Kwai Chung, New Territories, for its suspected illegal sale and possession of an unregistered pCm called “Singapore Headway Goldboss Jiann Wey Jeng Charng Pill” (batch numbers: 232491, 232492, 232493, 232494, 232495). It was found that the arsenic level in some samples had exceeded the limit imposed by Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong (CMCHK). Singapore Headway has arranged total recall of all batches of the related product.

     Through market surveillance, the DH actively investigated and found the above mentioned product was an unregistered pCm. According to its label, the pCm is indicated for indigestion, gastrointestinal discomfort, vomiting, diarrhea and cold. Preliminary investigations revealed that Singapore Headway, the registration holder of the pCm, did not produce the concerned batches of pCm in designated manufacturer according to the registration with the CMCHK. Hence, the concerned batches of produce were suspected to be unregistered pCm. Furthermore, testing by the Government Laboratory revealed that some samples contained about 1.7 times the maximum permitted level of arsenic under the registration criteria of pCms imposed by CMCHK. Singapore Headway has arranged total recall of all batches of the related product.

     The DH’s investigation is on-going.

     “Unregistered pCms may pose threats to public health as their safety, quality and efficacy are not proven. Arsenic is a heavy metal. While acute poisoning may cause severe vomiting, diarrhoea, confusion and coma, prolonged exposure can adversely affect the liver, kidney and heart. Young children are particularly vulnerable.” a spokesman for the DH said.

     Singapore Headway has set up a hotline (2407 1226) for related enquiries. The DH will closely monitor the recall.

     According to section 119 of the Chinese Medicine Ordinance (Cap 549), no person shall sell, import or possess any pCm unless it is registered. The maximum penalty is a fine of $100,000 and two years’ imprisonment. The DH will seek advice from the Department of Justice on prosecution matters upon completion of the investigation, and will refer the case to the CMCHK for consideration of possible disciplinary action.

     â€‹Members of the public who have purchased the above pCm should stop using it immediately. Those who have used the above pCm and feel unwell should seek advice from healthcare professionals. People who have the above pCm may submit it to the DH’s Chinese Medicine Regulatory Office on 16/F, AIA Kowloon Tower, Landmark East, 100 How Ming Street, Kwun Tong, during office hours for disposal.

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East Asia

Transcript of remarks at media session on cross-boundary transport arrangements for large-scale events (with video)

     The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung; the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung; and the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Lam Sai-hung, met the media after an interdepartmental meeting this afternoon (January 2) on cross-boundary transport arrangements for large-scale events. Following is the transcript of remarks of the media session:
 
Reporter: Will the Government publicly apologise for the inconvenience caused to those affected tourists? How many people do you expect from the Mainland to come to Hong Kong for the Lunar New Year, especially for the fireworks? What are the arrangements to avoid similar chaos from happening again? Can you give us some examples? Is the Government concerned about the incident will harm Hong Kong’s image, given the former city leader’s recent criticism of the tourist authority’s lack of proactive measures to attract Mainland tourists? This time, they were the ones who were upset and affected.
 
Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism: On the attractions for tourists, you will be aware that in the past years, we have been upgrading a lot of our tourist attractions, including the theme parks, peak tram and a number of cultural facilities that are now opened to our tourists and become very important attractions.
 
     We have been organising a number of major events as well, such as the fireworks, the Wine and Dine (Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival). There will be some more coming up during the Chinese New Year, including a parade as well as fireworks. So, I think we are still a very attractive destination for tourists. As reflected in some of the surveys conducted in the past two or three weeks, Hong Kong remains a very welcome tourist spot for the Mainland tourists.
 
     We are expecting that there will be quite a number of tourists coming during the Chinese New Year. Before the pandemic, the Chinese New Year is one of the peak periods when there are a large number of tourists from the Mainland coming over. So, we will be taking measures and initiatives, together with some of the new measures that our colleagues have mentioned to tackle the issue regarding the returning of Mainland tourists to the Mainland after attending major events.
 
     But the Chinese New Year may be a little bit different, because that will be a longer holiday on the Mainland. It is possible that Mainland tourists will likely be spending more time in Hong Kong as well. That said, we learn from this time and we are taking new measures. We will do all we can and spend our efforts to make sure that to our Mainland tourists, if they decide to return to the Mainland after some major events, the arrangement will be more satisfactory.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) read more

East Asia