I want to manufacture a health product in Hong Kong containing some herbal ingredients. Do I need to apply for a pharmaceutical product manufacturer's licence or a licence to manufacture proprietary Chinese medicines?

This is a very good question and reflects forward-thinking about business development. In Hong Kong, pharmaceutical products and medical devices are governed by two separate regulatory systems. Pharmaceutical products are regulated by the Drug Office, Department of Health, and the PPB, and you need to apply for the various pharmaceutical licences discussed above. Medical devices are regulated by the Medical Device Division (MDD) under the Department of Health. Hong Kong currently operates a voluntary listing system for medical devices, known as the Medical Device Administrative Control System (MDACS). Although listing is voluntary, most importers and distributors apply to list their medical devices to demonstrate product safety and efficacy and to supply public organisations such as the Hospital Authority. You must therefore submit a separate application to the MDD and demonstrate that your company meets the requirements of the Code of Practice for Medical Device Importers and Distributors under the Medical Device Administrative Control System, including having a Quality Management System (such as ISO 13485). The two application processes run in parallel and do not affect each other, but you must meet two different sets of regulations and standards.