What licence do I need to apply for to open a pharmacy in Hong Kong? What are the main steps?

To open a retail pharmacy in Hong Kong, you need to apply for an “Authorised Seller of Poisons Licence”, commonly known as a “pharmacy licence”. This licence is issued by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong (PPB). The main steps are as follows: first, you must establish a Hong Kong limited company and find retail premises that meet the requirements of the Code of Practice for Authorised Sellers of Poisons. Next, you must employ one or more registered pharmacists and ensure that a pharmacist is on duty throughout all business hours. You then need to prepare detailed application documents, including company information, a premises layout plan, the pharmacists’ registration certificates and employment contracts, and submit the application to the PPB Secretariat (operated by the Drug Office, Department of Health). After submission, the Drug Office will arrange a site inspection to check whether the layout, facilities, security system and medicine storage conditions comply with the requirements. Finally, if the inspection is passed and all documents are complete, the PPB’s Licensing Committee will consider your application. If successful, the licence will be issued.