Traditional Chinese Medicine Garden Grand Opening | THEi's Chinese Medicine & Culture Research Center joins hands with Hong Kong enterprises and Southeast Asian partners to collectively witness the arrival of a new era in the sustainable development of traditional Chinese medicine!
The Chinese Medicine & Culture Research Center • D20 Roots Opening Ceremony cum Seminar on Sustainable Development of Chinese Medicine was held at the Hong Kong Golf and Tennis Academy by Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi) on November 3, 2023.
Chinese Medicine and Culture Research Center (CMCRC) at THEi was established in the previous year to promote the development of Chinese medicine in Hong Kong. The center is primarily composed of experts and scholars from four programs: Chinese medicinal pharmacology, food science and safety, nutrition and health management, as well as testing and certification. It has continued to make new progress and achievements in the field of functional foods and chronic disease prevention. Since its operation in 2022, it has been committed to five areas: promoting applied research on traditional Chinese medicine, inheriting the culture of traditional Chinese medicine, providing traditional Chinese medicine education and training, build a Greater Bay Area and international cooperation platform. And establish a model for the sustainable development of traditional Chinese medicine. The Research, Academic and Industry Sectors (RAIS) philosophy of the center has been highly recognized by the Far East Consortium International Limited and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Dorsett Hospitality International. The Far East Consortium International Limited has lent over 40,000 square feet of mountain land on Sai Kung to support the establishment of the Chinese medicine garden for CMCRC, which will be used for the cultivation of local Lingnan medicinal herbs, teaching, clinical research, and the transformation of RAIS.
Within less than a year of its establishment, CMCRC has launched a series of collaborative initiatives. These include a project titled "Innovation and Technology Shennong - 5G Hydroponic Traditional Chinese Medicine Cultivation Project" in partnership with institutions such as the HKSKH Bishop Hall Secondary School, Farm66 Investment Limited, and SmarTone Telecommunications Holdings Limited. In collaboration with Wu Zhi Qiao (Bridge to China) Charitable Foundation to co-created D20 Roots. Moreover, the center has undertaken clinical research in collaboration with the Guangdong Hydropower Hospital Co., Ltd., focusing on the use of Lingnan medicinal herbs in the intervention of chronic diseases. The center has indeed made significant achievements across various domains including teaching, scientific research, and industry.
The opening ceremony for the "D20 Roots", a traditional Chinese medicine garden base jointly established by the Institute for CMCRC and the Far East Consortium International Limited, also marked the official launch of the cooperation project between the two parties in the inheritance and promotion of traditional Chinese medicine and culture.
At the opening ceremony, Mr Donald TONG Chi-keung, the Executive Director of the Vocational Training Council (VTC), delivered a welcome speech. He emphasized the importance of industry support in nurturing a new generation of professionals. He expressed gratitude to the Dorsett Hospitality International for its ongoing support of the VTC, providing students with scholarships, industry visits, internships, and employment opportunities, and this time for donating a piece of farmland in Sai Kung to THEi for the cultivation of Chinese herbal medicine and medicinal plants, as well as making a donation to support the ongoing development of traditional Chinese medicine. He hoped that through the joint establishment of this herbal garden, students in THEi's Bachelor of Science (Honours) Chinese Medicinal Pharmacy program would have the opportunity to conduct field visits to learn about the cultivation methods and properties of Chinese medicine, gain diverse learning and practical opportunities, and also be able to conduct research on Chinese herbs through the platform of the Institute for Chinese Medicine and Culture, fostering their analytical skills and critical thinking.
Subsequently, Ms. Winnie Chiu, JP, Director of Far East Consortium International Limited & President of Dorsett Hospitality International, highly affirmed the collaborative projects between the school and the enterprise. She expressed her intention to continue strong support and looked forward to more fruitful outcomes from cooperation in teaching, scientific research, and industry.
After the speeches from both parties, the unveiling ceremony was jointly completed through a ritual called "Agarwood tree watering ceremony" by Mr. TONG Chi-keung, Executive Director of the VTC; Ms. Winnie Chiu, JP, President of Dorsett Hospitality International; Mr. Chu Kwok-keung, Legislative Council member; Mr. Ho Ka-ki, Asst Comr for Chinese Medicine Development; Professor Li Tak-man, Vice President of THEi; and Dr. Au Ching Tung, Executive Director of the CMCRC.
After the "Agarwood Tree Watering" unveiling ceremony was concluded, Mr. Li Tak-man, Vice President of THEi, on behalf of THEi, expressed his gratitude to the guests.
Additionally, the guests also witnessed the signing of two memoranda of understanding, as well as the launch of the new product "Herbal Tea 3.0 Sparkling Herbal Tea" which was co-developed by the faculty and students of THEi. This will elevate the elements of traditional Chinese medicine to new heights in product development and cultural promotion through teaching, scientific research, and industry.
Following the conclusion of the "D20 Roots" opening ceremony, the CMCRC hosted a seminar on "Sustainable Development of Chinese Medicine". Scholars from cooperative institutions in countries along the Belt and Road, such as Thailand and Malaysia, delivered lectures. The experts presented fascinating content regarding the functional foods of Chinese herbal medicine, providing the attendees with an academic feast.
In subsequent collaborations, the team from THEi's CMCRC will make full use of the "D20 Roots", the previously established "One School, One TCM Garden" project, and the upcoming "Ocean Park Herbal Garden" project as bases to carry out more popular science dissemination of Chinese medicine and collaborative teaching, scientific research, and industry. It will work together to promote the integration of technology with traditional Chinese medicine and propel the sustainable development of Chinese medical culture. Through cross-sector collaboration and innovative research, it aim to better popularize knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine among the people of Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area, and countries along the Belt and Road, and to provide more functional food solutions for health maintenance based on Chinese medicine, enhancing the cultural influence of Chinese medicine.
Hong Kong Economic Journal 職訓局獲邱德根孫借地建中藥園
https://bit.ly/3SIQJ0r
November 6, 2023 (Monday)