HK as Chinese medicine centre not cost-effective

Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa has proposed Hong Kong as a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) centre. I believe, as a site, Hong Kong is wanting in several aspects.

Formal training in TCM did not start until recently. The new TCM courses in the various universities rely heavily on the mainland for teaching staff and provision of clinical practice.

In contrast, a lot of work in basic scientific research, clinical evaluations and modifications in the forms of TCM has been carried out in the mainland during the past decade.

More than 1,000 condensed TCM preparations in the form of tablets, capsules, granules or ready-to-drink liquids are available. As well, using modern technology, the effective ingredients of about 500 TCMs have been extracted and made into granules that can be taken by dissolving in a cup of hot water.

This is a big step forward in improving the form of TCM and would permit quantification and quality control of the active ingredients. In adopting the Good Manufacturing Practice, these TCM products will be ready for an international market.

Hong Kong also lacks the raw materials required for this kind of industry. Tonnes of herbs need to be imported from the mainland for each kilogram of effective ingredient to be extracted. Furthermore, while the rent of factories and the cost of labour have dropped after the economic storm, the levels are still much higher than those in the mainland.