The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (January 15) announced the test results of a recently completed seasonal food surveillance project on Lunar New Year (LNY) food (first… read more
Following is a question by Dr the Hon Hoey Simon Lee and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, in the Legislative Council today (January 15):
Question:
It is learnt that an organisation has earlier on launched a trading platform for Chinese herbal medicines to promote the development of the Chinese medicine (CM) industry. There are views that as CM is deemed to be the Chinese cultural legacy, Hong Kong can capitalise on its strengths to promote transformation of the CM industry towards high-end development (especially in the areas of trading, testing and certification) and develop CM into a globally influential “Made in China” brand, so as to contribute to the promotion of Chinese culture. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) as the 2024 Policy Address proposes to explore the application of big data to foster international research collaboration on herb-drug interaction so as to promote the internationalisation of CM, whether the Government will work with the Mainland to formulate an information exchange mechanism regarding CM data and the related application of artificial intelligence, with a view to supporting the development of CM towards internationalisation;
(2) as there are views that developing standards for Chinese materia medica is conducive to the development of the CM industry, but there are inconsistencies between the Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China implemented in the Mainland and the Hong Kong Chinese Materia Medica Standards formulated in Hong Kong at present, whether the Government has plans to further harmonise the two sets of standards;
(3) to promote the trading of Chinese medicines both within and outside the country, whether the Government has plans to further apply the testing and certification mechanism of the Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute to international commercial activities; and
(4) to facilitate the development of the whole industrial chain for the CM sector, whether the Government has considered further improving the policies relating to Chinese herbal medicines and decoction pieces, including the relevant supporting facilities for storage and logistics?
Reply:
President,
The Government has been committed to promoting the all-round, high-quality and high-standard development of Chinese medicine (CM) in Hong Kong. To develop Hong Kong into a bridgehead for the internationalisation of CM, the Government makes use of Hong Kong’s advantages in its healthcare system, regulatory regime, standard-setting, clinical research and trade, and other areas. The reply to the various parts of the question raised by Dr the Hon Hoey Simon Lee is as follows:
(1) As one of the policy initiatives set out in “The Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address”, the Government will explore the application of big data to foster international research collaboration on herb-drug interaction to discover more evidence of clinical significance, thereby promoting the internationalisation of CM.
The Chinese Medicine Applied Studies and Research Funding Scheme under the Chinese Medicine Development Fund (CMDF) of the Health Bureau (HHB) has listed researches related to the application of innovative technology (such as big data and artificial intelligence (AI)) in CM as one of the priority research themes. The Scheme also encourages Hong Kong institutions to collaborate with their Mainland and international partners for promoting research and development on the application of data and AI in CM. Meanwhile, the CMDF is also preparing to engage institutions to conduct research projects on herb-drug interaction through the Strategic Theme Commissioned Project Funding Programme, with a view to facilitating research on herb-drug interaction and their clinical applications.
At the same time, serving as the flagship institution that promotes the development of CM in Hong Kong, The Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong (CMHHK) will work with CM hospitals on the Mainland to co-ordinate with local, Mainland and overseas partner institutions to develop a scientific research network and foster international research collaboration on herb-drug interaction, with a view to formulating internationally recognised guidelines for the use of Chinese and Western medicines and driving the integration of CM into the healthcare systems worldwide. To this end, CMHHK signed a strategic collaboration agreement with the Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the TCM-Klinik Bad Kötzting in Germany in January 2024 and January 2025 respectively.
(2) The Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China (Chinese Pharmacopoeia) is compiled and revised by the Chinese Pharmacopoeia Commission. It is applicable to Mainland China and covers Chinese medicines, Western medicines, biological products, etc. The Chinese Pharmacopoeia is currently divided into four volumes, with Volume I covering the standards of Chinese herbal medicines (Chms) and proprietary Chinese medicines. The Chm standards in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia are meant to: (i) regularise the sources of Chms; (ii) regularise the technical requirements for testing, such as morphology, identification and assays; and (iii) serve as the regulatory standard for Chm testing and distribution on the Mainland. The implementation and application of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia promotes the standardisation and regularisation of Chms on the Mainland.
As for the Hong Kong Chinese Materia Medica Standards (HKCMMS) project launched by the Department of Health (DH) since 2002, its key role is to promote the modernisation and internationalisation of Hong Kong’s Chinese medicines sector and facilitate the international trade of Chinese medicines. As such, the categories of Chms under the HKCMMS and the contents of the standards are primarily based on the local needs of Hong Kong. After more than 20 years of development, the HKCMMS have been widely applied in different fields. They have also served as internationally recognised references and frameworks, and have been repeatedly cited in articles on Chinese medicines researches by overseas authoritative institutions and in international journals. Meanwhile, the International Advisory Board has been set up under the HKCMMS project, comprising representatives of experts in the field of herbal medicines from multiple countries, among which serving members of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia Commission provide guidance on the formulation of the HKCMMS, making it comparable to the standards with the Chinese Pharmacopoeia as well as pharmacopoeias of other countries.
(3) The mission of the Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute (GCMTI) is to develop a set of internationally recognised reference standards for Chinese medicines and their products through state-of-the-art technology and scientific research. The GCMTI also promotes commercial application in the Chinese medicines and testing sectors through training and technology transfer programmes.
Apart from the HKCMMS, the GCMTI has so far completed 16 research and thematic projects of different disciplines, including macroscopic and microscopic identification, biotechnology and chemical analysis. The research results are published on the website of the DH’s Chinese Medicine Regulatory Office for the reference of relevant stakeholders. Besides, the GCMTI has also strengthened the sector’s quality control techniques and enhanced its overall competitiveness through technology transfer.
As at December 31, 2024, the GCMTI has organised 101 promotional activities for representatives from the CM practitioner, Chinese medicines and testing sectors, students of related disciplines, etc, to introduce the testing methods developed by the GCMTI and share research results, recording 5 783 attendances.
The Chinese medicines standards and testing methods developed by the GCMTI are established in strict accordance with related international requirements, where these tests will have to be acknowledged by international experts or verified by independent third parties to ensure their accuracy and repeatability. Therefore, by adopting the Chinese medicines standards and testing methods of the GCMTI to enhance quality control, the Chinese medicines sector can boost the international recognition and competitiveness of their products, thereby assisting enterprises in entering global markets.
(4) The HHB has been continuously providing the CM sector with a diverse array of subsidies and support through the CMDF, and has timely launched as appropriate and enhanced various funding schemes to cater for the actual needs of the sector. The Chinese Medicine Warehouse Management, Logistics and Services Improvement Funding Scheme under the CMDF covers equipment related to warehousing, logistics, identification and processes associated with Chms and decoction pieces. This aims to support the sector in enhancing its standards in warehouse management, logistics and services. As of December 2024, more than 650 projects of subsidised facilities have been approved under the relevant scheme, with funding provided to nearly 220 entities.
At the same time, Hong Kong has a robust regulatory system for CM. Regulated under the Chinese Medicine Ordinance (Cap. 549), Chinese medicines traders engaged in the wholesale and retail of Chms must apply for the relevant licences from the Chinese Medicines Board (CMB) under the Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong. They are also required to comply with the requirements regarding aspects such as purchase, storage and transportation of Chms and decoction pieces in the practicing guidelines. Additionally, the CMB has established acceptable limits for the safety of Chms, including the maximum levels of pesticide residues, heavy metals and other harmful substances. These limits are reviewed and revised by the CMB from time to time to ensure that the Chms sold in Hong Kong meet the latest international safety standards.
The industrial chain for the CM sector encompasses a wide range of areas, including CM clinical services, the production and manufacturing of Chinese medicines products, professional training, testing and certification, standard-setting, trading and sales, research and innovation, as well as cultural dissemination. The co-operation and commitment of various parties are essential for promoting the all-round development of the CM industrial chain. The Government is collaborating with the CM sector to formulate the Chinese Medicine Development Blueprint, aiming at outlining the vision for the future development of CM in Hong Kong, reviewing the current situation of the sector on all fronts, conducting in-depth discussions on key areas, and drawing up long-term CM development strategies in Hong Kong, with a view to capitalising on Hong Kong’s unique advantage of enjoying strong support from the motherland and maintaining close connection with the world, thereby propelling high-quality development and internationalisation of the CM sector. read more
Following is a question by the Hon Yim Kong and a reply by the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, in the Legislative Council today (January 15):
Question:
There are views pointing out that the supporting documents for ownership of real estates in Hong Kong, which often comprise hundreds to thousands of pages, cause great inconvenience to ownership holders in terms of storage and safekeeping. Additional costs are also incurred for depositing the relevant documents in safe deposit boxes in banks and it is difficult to make up for the damage or loss of the documents due to dampness, aging of paper, infestation by pests, fires or moving of homes, etc. The aforesaid problems have, to a certain extent, restricted the circulation of ownership. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) as it is learnt that in the event of damage or loss of supporting documents for real estates, even if certified copies of assignments (photocopied deeds) are obtained as replacement through law firms, the titles will still be regarded as incomplete, which may affect property prices and mortgage applications, whether the Government has reviewed if photocopied deeds approved by the Land Registry (LR) have the legal effect of proving full titles in the market;
(2) of the number of applications made by members of the public to the LR for photocopied deeds in the past three years and the main reasons for such applications; and
(3) whether it has considered comprehensively promoting the digitalisation of proof of ownership of fixed assets such as houses, land and vehicles; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
The current land registration system in Hong Kong is a deeds registration system, under which the proof of property ownership must comply with the common law and the requirements of the Conveyancing and Property Ordinance (Cap. 219). In terms of ordinary property sale and purchase, the vendor must provide the original title deeds relating to property transactions dating back at least 15 years for the purchaser’s solicitor to review at the purchaser’s request, in order to confirm that the vendor is the true owner of the property. The title deeds relating to property transactions hereby refer to government land grant, sale and purchase, assignment, mortgage instruments, etc. Under this system, the purchaser obtains title by executing a valid assignment with the vendor after the title is verified, and therefore proof of title is not based on one single document. After completion of the property transaction, the purchaser has possession of the title deeds; and where the property is mortgaged, the title deeds are kept by the mortgagee bank until the mortgage loan is repaid. For each property transaction, the purchaser’s solicitor will deliver the original transaction instruments to the Land Registry (LR) for registration. The LR will make and keep image records for each registered instrument and return the original instruments to the purchaser’s solicitor after registration is completed.
In this policy context, my response to the three parts of the question raised by the Hon Yim Kong is as follows:
(1) Under the current deeds registration system, it is essential for property owner to retain the physical original title deeds. The LR’s function and its role in property transactions and ownership verification are to register instruments, provide property search services, and provide copies or certified copies of registered instruments (Note).
In cases of loss of title deeds, we are aware of the Court’s ruling that if there is doubt on the property owner’s title arising from missing title deeds, the property owner needs to provide satisfactory evidence to remove the doubt. What is regarded as satisfactory depends on the circumstances of the particular case. In many past cases, a statutory declaration explaining why the title deeds are missing, accompanied with certified copies of the required title deeds and documents, may be regarded as title being established.
(2) In the past three financial years (i.e. 2021-22 to 2023-24), the average annual number of certified copies of land instruments provided by the LR is around 99 000. The instruments concerned are mostly orders issued by the Government concerning buildings matters and government land grant documents, with instruments relating to assignments only constituting a very small percentage, that is about three per cent. Since an applicant is not required to provide the reason for obtaining a certified copy from the LR, we do not keep information on the reasons for application.
(3) Under the current deeds registration system, the title to a property is ascertained through the provision and checking of title deeds. As mentioned above, the title cannot be proved by one single document, whether in paper form or electronic form, under the current system.
The Government is preparing to introduce a title registration system to gradually replace the current deeds registration system, starting with newly granted land. In this connection, we will introduce an amendment bill into the Legislative Council in the first quarter of 2025 to amend the Land Titles Ordinance (Cap. 585) for this purpose. Under this new title registration system, the Title Register is conclusive evidence of title, and title to property can be ascertained through search of the Title Register, without the need to go through past title documents as is currently done. Accordingly, upon implementation of the amendment bill, for newly granted land, checking or keeping of a series of title documents over the years as under the current system, will no longer be necessary. This also addresses the problems arising from the loss of original title documents.
Under the title registration system, the Title Register itself is sufficient proof of title. Even so, in response to the public’s wish to hold a paper title certificate, the LR will in future issue a paper title certificate to property owners in respect of land under the title registration system, and a copy of the certificate will be kept in the LR electronically. Generally speaking, the LR will issue one title certificate of around one to two pages for each property.
In respect of proof of ownership of vehicles, the Transport and Logistics Bureau indicated that particulars of registered vehicles are currently stored electronically in the Transport Department (TD)’s computer licensing system. The Vehicle Registration Document (VRD) is an important document issued by the TD to the registered owner of a vehicle, which contains the personal particulars of the registered owner and the registration details of his/her vehicle. As the implementation of full-digitalisation of the VRD, i.e. there will no longer be paper form of the VRD, involves a number of considerations, including regulation, technology and system security and acceptance of the community, etc, the Government needs to study carefully and consider prudently the appropriateness and practicability so as to meet the needs and expectations of the public and the industry.
Note: A normal copy is a copy printed from the LR records, while a certified copy is printed on security paper and certified by the Land Registrar. read more
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (January 15) investigating three epidemiologically linked food poisoning clusters tentatively found to affect 57 persons, and reminded the public to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene to prevent foodborne diseases.
The three clusters involved 28 males and 29 females aged between 25 and 91, who developed abdominal pain, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting and fever about eight to 74 hours after eating at the Golden Lilies International Banquet Hall in Wang Kwong Road, Kowloon Bay, on January 8, 9 and 12.
Of those affected, 34 persons sought medical advice, while two of them required hospitalisation and were discharged after treatment.
　A preliminary investigation by the CHP revealed that the affected persons had consumed a variety of food items, including “siu mei”, such as roasted piglet and chicken and other hot dishes. Staff of the CHP and the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department have conducted an investigation at the restaurant, taken food samples for testing, and examined the cooking process and hygiene of the food.
The CFS’s investigation revealed that the roasted piglet and chicken were prepared too early in advance and were not reheated before consumption. In addition, the risk of cross-contamination during the preparation process could not be ruled out. According to the established mechanism, the CFS immediately instructed the premises concerned to immediately stop serving all “siu mei” involved, suspend the operation of the “siu mei” section, clean and disinfect the premises, improve the food preparation process and hygiene, and provide food safety and environmental hygiene education to the restaurant staff.
The investigation of the CHP and CFS is ongoing. It cannot be ruled out that the number of affected persons may increase. The CHP appealed to those who dined at the Golden Lilies International Banquet Hall located on G/F, Skyline Tower, 39 Wang Kwong Road, Kowloon Bay, on the evening of January 8 or 9, or during lunchtime on January 12, and developed gastrointestinal symptoms, to call the CHP hotline (2125 2372) for follow up and medical surveillance. The hotline will operate until January 17 from 9am to 5pm. They should seek medical advice immediately if they develop symptoms of infection, such as fever or feeling unwell.
To prevent foodborne diseases, members of the public are reminded to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene at all times. When dining out, one should:
In response to the Japanese Government’s plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station, the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene issued a Food Safety Order which prohibits all aquatic products, sea salt and seaweeds originating from the 10 metropolis/prefectures, namely Tokyo, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Chiba, Gunma, Tochigi, Niigata, Nagano and Saitama, from being imported into and supplied in Hong Kong.
For other Japanese aquatic products, sea salt and seaweeds that are not prohibited from being imported into Hong Kong, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will conduct comprehensive radiological tests to verify that the radiation levels of these products do not exceed the guideline levels before they are allowed to be supplied in the market.
As the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water is unprecedented and will continue for 30 years or more, the Government will closely monitor and step up the testing arrangements. Should anomalies be detected, the Government does not preclude further tightening the scope of the import ban.
From noon on January 14 to noon today (January 15), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 151 food samples imported from Japan, which were of the “aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt” category. No sample was found to have exceeded the safety limit. Details can be found on the CFS’s thematic website titled “Control Measures on Foods Imported from Japan” (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_rafs/programme_rafs_fc_01_30_Nuclear_Event_and_Food_Safety.html).
In parallel, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has also tested 50 samples of local catch for radiological levels. All the samples passed the tests. Details can be found on the AFCD’s website (www.afcd.gov.hk/english/fisheries/Radiological_testing/Radiological_Test.html).
The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) has also enhanced the environmental monitoring of the local waters. No anomaly has been detected so far. For details, please refer to the HKO’s website
(www.hko.gov.hk/en/radiation/monitoring/seawater.html).
From August 24, 2023, to noon today, the CFS and the AFCD have conducted tests on the radiological levels of 110 645 samples of food imported from Japan (including 72 004 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 25 420 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests. read more