Mainland traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioners and institutions must obey Hong Kong laws if they want to co-operate with enterprises there, a new circular declared recently.
　　The State Administration of TCM and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office issued the notice to regulate and enhance exchanges and co-operations in TCM.

TCM was not officially recognized in Hong Kong until July 1999, so many mainland TCM institutions don't understand the Basic Law of Hong Kong and how to operate there, said Li Zhenji, vice-director of international co-operation under the administration.

That's why these link-ups have been disorganized and Hong Kong residents are unhappy with the products they are being offered, experts say.

The circular stipulates that people practising TCM in Hong Kong should get official permission, Li said.

Severe punishment will be imposed on mainland individuals and institutions that establish TCM endeavours without permission, the circular said.

Co-operative partners in the Hong Kong side should be institutes of higher education, affiliated hospitals of academies, teaching hospitals as well as other legally registered medical institutions, it said.

It also stressed that co-operative projects should be focused in TCM clinical teaching, scientific study and medical treatments.

Wu Wei of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office said TCM in Hong Kong is a poorly developed area.

From Chinadaily.com.cn