The Health Bureau today announced the appointment of Vincent Chung as the Commissioner for Chinese Medicine Development for a three-year term with effect from May 20, following an open recruitment exercise.

Mr Chung is a registered Chinese medicine (CM) practitioner of the Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong (CMCHK), and currently holds the position of Associate Professor at the Jockey Club School of Public Health & Primary Care within the Chinese University of Hong Kong's Faculty of Medicine.

He obtained Bachelor's degrees in Chinese Medicine & Biomedical Science from Hong Kong Baptist University, a Master's degree in Evidence-Based Health Care from the University of Oxford in the UK as well as a PhD in Public Health from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

His research focuses on interdisciplinary studies in healthcare service, public health and policies pertaining to the delivery of integrated Chinese-Western medicine services, with a publication record of over 170 articles in international peer-reviewed academic journals.

Additionally, he has served as a member of advisory bodies such as the Chinese Medicine Development Committee and the CMCHK, providing recommendations to the Government on strategies and regulatory matters for promoting the development of CM in Hong Kong.

The bureau said Mr Chung is familiar with the development of CM and public health policies, and at the same time possesses rich experience in areas such as the promotion of CM, clinical research on integrated Chinese-Western medicine, and research on public healthcare and services.

It added that Mr Chung will lead the bureau's Chinese Medicine Unit to strenuously engage and maintain close connection with stakeholders of the CM sector to jointly formulate the CM Development Blueprint, which will map out the visions and strategies for the way forward with a view to optimising the top-tier design at the policy level.

He will also oversee policy issues relating to the development of the Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong and the Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute as well as aspects including CM services, profession, industry, education, research and public education to drive the all-round high-quality development of CM in Hong Kong.