Tag Archives: China

     The Department of Health (DH) today (December 31) published reference standards on safety and quality for 24 commonly used Chinese Materia Medica (CMM) in Phase IX of the Hong Kong Chinese Materia Medica Standards (HKCMMS).
 
     “The HKCMMS Project was launched in 2002. Throughout the past years, with the concerted efforts of our collaboration partners, the HKCMMS have become well-recognised reference standards in the field of Chinese medicine testing and certification. The findings of the HKCMMS have also contributed to promoting the use of evidence-based, safe and quality Chinese medicines,” a DH spokesman said.
 
     “This volume is the ninth of the series setting out reference standards for CMM commonly used in Hong Kong. Up to now, the number of CMM with reference standards totals 299. To ensure the safety and quality of CMM, we have introduced the limits and testing method of sulphur dioxide residues in this volume, moving a step forward to safeguard public health. In addition, the DH will release a DVD compiling all nine volumes together with this printed version, so as to provide users with a compact and handy means to access the whole series of HKCMMS monographs,” the spokesman added.
 
     The criteria for selection of CMM for the research include the following:
 
* common usage in the local community;
* international concern in respect of their safety and quality;
* high economic value in the local market; and
* priority being accorded to the CMM listed in the two schedules of the Chinese Medicine Ordinance.
 
     Research work was conducted by research teams from six local universities, namely the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the City University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Baptist University, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and the University of Hong Kong. The National Institutes for Food and Drug Control of the People’s Republic of China and Taiwan’s China Medical University also took part in the research.
 
     An International Advisory Board comprising local, Mainland and overseas experts advised on the research principles, methodologies, parameters and analytical methods of the HKCMMS. The Government Laboratory developed analytical methods for determination of heavy metals, pesticide residues and mycotoxins, and participated in inter-laboratory verification. The National Medical Products Administration and the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine also provided valuable advice and support for the HKCMMS project.
 
     The HKCMMS Volume IX sets out the names, sources and descriptions of the 24 CMM, as well as methods of identification (including microscopic identification, thin-layer chromatographic identification and high-performance liquid chromatographic fingerprinting identification), tests and assays.
 
     The 24 CMM are Amomi Fructus, Asparagi Radix, Bletillae Rhizoma, Corydalis Bungeanae Herba, Elephantopi Herba, Ganoderma, Garciniae Resina (unprocessed), Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma Rubra, Glechomae Herba, Hedyotidis Diffusae Herba, Homalomenae Rhizoma, Hoveniae Semen, Ilicis Pubescentis Radix et Caulis, Lini Semen, Lobeliae Chinensis Herba, Polygalae Japonicae Herba, Potentillae Discoloris Herba, Psidii Guajavae Folium, Semiaquilegiae Radix, Sinapis Semen, Sparganii Rhizoma, Trichosanthis Radix, Wenyujin Rhizoma Concisum and Wikstroemiae Radix.
 
     The DH will arrange briefing sessions for Chinese medicine trade associations, wholesalers and manufacturers of Chinese medicines as well as representatives of laboratories to update them on the latest research developments of the HKCMMS Project.
 
    The HKCMMS Volume IX is available for public access at www.cmd.gov.hk/hkcmms/vol9/main.html. Limited copies of the DVD compiling all nine volumes can be obtained from the following locations:
 
* Chinese Medicine Division of the DH on 16/F, AIA Kowloon Tower, Landmark East, 100 How Ming Street, Kwun Tong;
* Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute of the DH on 7/F, Biotech Centre 2, 11 Science Park West Avenue, Phase 2, Science Park, Sha Tin;
* HKCMMS Office of the Chinese Medicine Division of the DH on 2/F, Public Health Laboratory Centre, 382 Nam Cheong Street, Kowloon; and
* Secretariat of the Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong on 22/F, Wu Chung House, 213 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai.
 
     For enquiries about HKCMMS issues, please call the HKCMMS Office at 2319 8562. The HKCMMS Volume IX is available for sale at the Publications Sales Unit of the Information Services Department. An electronic book ordering service can be made via the online Government Bookstore (www.bookstore.gov.hk). For enquiries about the sale of the publication, please call 2537 1910. read more

     A man who went missing in Sham Shui Po has been located.      Chen Xicun, aged 47, went missing after he was last seen on Nam Cheong Street on December 28 afternoon. His family made a report to … read more

     The latest test results of an opening-up investigation in the second stage of the holistic assessment strategy for the Hung Hom Station Extension under the Shatin to Central Link (SCL) project (as at December 31) are now available at the Highways Department’s website for the SCL project (www.hyd.gov.hk/en/road_and_railway/railway_projects/scl/index.html) for reference by the public. read more

     According to the report “Hong Kong Innovation Activities Statistics 2017” released today (December 31) by the Census and Statistics Department, the gross domestic expenditure on research and development (GERD) of Hong Kong in 2017 amounted to $21.28 billion, representing an increase of 8 per cent compared with 2016. The GERD as a ratio to the Gross Domestic Product in 2017 was 0.8 per cent. 
 
     A government spokesman said, “Innovation and technology (I&T) is a priority policy area of the current-term Government. Since the establishment of the Innovation and Technology Bureau in 2015, significant resources have been devoted to strengthening Hong Kong’s I&T ecosystem and stimulating research and development (R&D) activities.”
 
     The spokesman said that a number of new initiatives were introduced last year to promote I&T development, such as providing enhanced tax deduction of up to 300 per cent for R&D expenditure incurred by enterprises, and injecting $10 billion into the Innovation and Technology Fund to support more R&D work by universities, public research institutes and private enterprises. In addition, $10 billion has been allocated for setting up two research clusters at the Hong Kong Science Park to attract top local, Mainland and overseas R&D institutions to conduct more collaborative research in Hong Kong. A total of $10.3 billion has also been allocated to the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation and the Hong Kong Cyberport Development Holdings Limited to enhance their incubation programmes and support for technology enterprises. These measures will induce further investment in R&D.
 
     “The Steering Committee on Innovation and Technology, chaired by the Chief Executive, will continue to closely monitor the progress of the above measures. We expect the effect of these measures to increasingly come through in subsequent years, contributing to further increase in the level of GERD,” the spokesman said. read more

     The Prosecutions Division of the Department of Justice today (December 31) released its annual report, “Prosecutions Hong Kong 2017”, which reviews the division’s work and important cases last year.

     In his letter presenting the report to the Secretary for Justice, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr David Leung, SC, highlighted one of the most important guiding principles for the division’s prosecutors: “As ministers of justice, we are dedicated to upholding the rule of law by conducting criminal prosecutions free from any interference. The responsibilities that we take up are heavy, the challenges and criticisms that we face are immense, but we have and shall continue to uphold the rule of law with professionalism, independence, and transparency.”

     In the Director’s Overview, Mr Leung made clear his goal to enable prosecutors in the division to gain more exposure in court work and to enhance their advocacy skills.  He also further elaborated on the key challenges for the division in 2017. For cases related to the Occupy Central Movement and incidents in Mong Kok involving violence in February 2016, as in any other case, “prosecutors…considered the decision of whether to prosecute and if so, the appropriate charge(s) purely on the available evidence and the principles set out in the Prosecution Code – nothing else,” Mr Leung said.  In respect of the review of sentences cases, he reiterated that “prosecutors only conduct review of sentences in the rarest of cases.”

     As to the continuing verbal abuses of prosecutors, Mr Leung emphasised that “while prosecutors are not immune from criticisms, they and their family members should not become victims of such unwarranted abuses.  Prosecutors conduct criminal prosecutions not because of their personal interests. They do so on behalf of the public as ministers of justice….” And noting attacks on the presiding judges when the outcome of the cases with a political background do not tally with their expectation, Mr Leung stressed that “the public should have confidence in the judicial system and judicial officers of Hong Kong and refrain from lodging baseless attacks on judges.”

     Apart from the key challenges, Mr Leung also set out in the Director’s Overview the important achievements made in 2017. Firstly, various measures were taken to strengthen the prosecution services at the magistracy level. Secondly, in May 2017, the Department of Justice organised the Criminal Law Conference in partnership with the Hong Kong Bar Association and the Law Society of Hong Kong. Thirdly, the division continued to actively reach out to its partners and the community by organising events such as the Prosecution Week and the “Meet the Community” Programme.

     Apart from a detailed account of the main activities of and key cases handled by the different sub-divisions and units of the Prosecutions Division, this latest review also provides information on various trainings as well as conferences, both locally and internationally, in which prosecutors participated during the year.

     The review also contains two feature articles – one on “Anguish and Joy as DPP” and the other on “Surviving Practice as a Criminal Lawyer”. For the former, Mr Keith Yeung, SC, shared his thoughts and feelings during his term as the Director of Public Prosecutions. For the latter, Mr Jonathan Caplan, QC, sets out his various reflections on his practice as a barrister over the last 25 years in both the United Kingdom and Hong Kong.

     “Prosecutions Hong Kong 2017” is available at the website of the Department of Justice (www.doj.gov.hk/eng/public/yrreviewpd2017.html). read more