The School of Chinese Medicine (SCM) at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) held the 8th “Cheung On Tak International Award for Outstanding Contribution to Chinese Medicine” Award (Award) Ceremony cum Award Lectures on 23 April 2026. The event honoured two world-leading scholars, Professor Thomas Efferth, Director of the Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany, and Professor Shen Yuandong, Chairman of the Technical Committee for Traditional Medicine under the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO/TC 249). Both were recognised for their exceptional contributions to the modernisation and global development of Chinese medicine. 

The ceremony drew a distinguished audience of leaders from government, business, and academia, including Mr. Gavin Cheung and Ms. Annie Cheung, Directors of the Cheung On Tak Charity Foundation; Ms. Rowena Wong How Wan, Chief Manager (Chinese Medicine) of the Hospital Authority; Academician Chen Kaixian, Chair of the adjudicator panel of the Award; and other panel members including Academician Liu Liang, Professor Leung Ping Chung, SBS, OBE, JP, and Professor Guo De An; Professor Lin Zhixiu, Director of School of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. They were joined by HKBU’s representatives, including Mr. Kevin Liem, Treasurer of the Council and the Court, and the Board of Governors of the HKBU Foundation; Professor Martin Wong, Provost; Professor Lyu Aiping, Vice-President (Research and Development) cum Dean of Graduate School; Ms. Christine Chow, Vice-President (Administration) and Secretary; and Professor Li Min, Dean of Chinese Medicine. Also in attendance was Mrs. Lily Chan, Director of University Advancement and Secretary-General of the Foundation. 

In his address, Professor Martin Wong expressed his heartfelt gratitude for the Cheung On Tak Charity Foundation’s steadfast support. He added, “Our SCM has been at the forefront of Chinese medicine development since its establishment in 1999, nurturing talent to address evolving healthcare challenges, fostering translational research and drug discovery, and making Chinese medicine more evidence-based and impactful for humanity. This biennial Award is a testament to HKBU’s vision and leadership in advancing Chinese medicine.” 

Following the ceremony, Professor Shen Yuandong and Professor Thomas Efferth each delivered a lecture. Professor Shen explored the contributions of international standards to the internationalisation of traditional Chinese medicine, while Professor Efferth shared his unique insights on the systems biology of Chinese medicine. 

Established in 2011 by the SCM with the donations from the Cheung On Tak Charity Foundation, the biennial Cheung On Tak International Award for Outstanding Contribution to Chinese Medicine is the first international award in the field of Chinese medicine to be conferred locally. It aims to promote the modernisation and internationalisation of Chinese medicine, underscoring the leading role of the University and SCM in the development of Chinese medicine. 

Guests pose for a photo with the laureates 

The ceremony attracts numerous industry leaders as well as HKBU faculty members and students