This undated file photo shows a Chinese Medical Clinic of Tung Wah Group Hospitals in Hong Kong. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

Hong Kong officials, medical experts and residents have attached unprecedented importance to applying traditional Chinese medicine in combating COVID-19, given its remarkable effectiveness in relieving symptoms, said Zhang Zhongde, deputy leader of a team of Chinese mainland TCM experts visiting the special administrative region.

He made the remarks on Sunday as Hong Kong’s daily number of infections fell to 3,709 — the ninth consecutive day that confirmed cases have dropped below 10,000. The HKSAR government began a week-long operation on Saturday to distribute anti-pandemic kitscontaining TCM to more than 3 million households.

Zhang said that since the mainland TCM experts arrived in Hong Kong, local officials and medical professionals have extended great support, helping them to familiarize themselves with the city’s pandemic situation.

Zhang Zhongde, deputy leader of a team of Chinese mainland TCM experts visiting the HKSAR, stressed that TCM can effectively alleviate symptoms like fever, coughing and loss of appetite. He believes that even if new COVID-19 variants were to develop in the future, TCM can still be useful in relieving symptoms

Zhang arrived in Hong Kong two weeks ago with another 300 mainland medical workers.

Before coming to the SAR, Zhang, who is also vice-president of the Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine and deputy chief of the Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, had visited nine mainland provinces more than 10 times to provide anti-pandemic support.

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The mainland TCM experts have worked at the AsiaWorld-Expo community isolation facility on Lantau Island — a major center offering TCM treatment to COVID-19 patients. Zhang said the mainland experts have been collaborating with Hong Kong medical practitioners in checking on patients’ conditions, analyzing symptoms and formulating treatment strategies.

They found that TCM can alleviate the symptoms of COVID-19 patients in a severe condition and prevent these cases from worsening.

Zhang stressed that TCM can effectively alleviate symptoms like fever, coughing and loss of appetite. He believes that even if new COVID-19 variants were to develop in the future, TCM can still be useful in relieving symptoms.

Most patients in Hong Kong have taken TCM to treat the disease, Zhang said.

This undated file photo shows Zhang Zhongde, vice-president of both Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine and deputy chief of the Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

So far, about 9.3 million boxes of three types of proprietary Chinese medicine have been distributed to Hong Kong residents through anti-pandemic kits.

According to Zhang, the Hong Kong government is producing manuals and establishing an advisory platform to explain the usage of Chinese medicines, and help COVID-19 patients take the proper types of TCM based on their health conditions.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor highlighted TCM’s effectiveness in treating COVID-19 at her regular press conference on the pandemic on Sunday, and pledged to relax policies to give full play to TCM’s potential in medical treatment.

Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee said the government has offered TCM services in various forms during the anti-pandemic fight. Chinese medicine workers at the AsiaWorld-Expo community isolation facility have so far provided about 1,400 consultations to 300 patients.

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A hotline providing free TCM consultation services has already processed 6,400 enquiries. All of Hong Kong’s 18 TCM clinics have participated in a program that offers free out-patient services to every eligible COVID-19 patient for up to 10 times.