Will it affect my application if the Responsible Person (RP) or pharmacist I nominate cannot speak Cantonese or Chinese?

To a large extent, this depends on the person’s specific position and responsibilities. For an RP at a pharmaceutical wholesaler or manufacturer, if their main duties are to oversee the internal Quality Management System and records, and they can communicate effectively with the Drug Office in writing and orally in English, language will not usually be a major barrier. Hong Kong is an international business centre, and English is one of its official languages; the regulator is fully able to communicate and conduct interviews in English. However, the situation is different for a registered pharmacist working in a pharmacy. Pharmacists need to communicate directly with local customers and provide advice on the use of medicines. If a pharmacist cannot communicate fluently in Cantonese with customers, particularly elderly people, this will seriously affect service quality and patient safety in the use of medicines. Cantonese is therefore almost essential for positions involving services to the public.