In 1997, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has announced its policy on the development of traditional Chinese medicine to include incorporating traditional Chinese medicine in the public healthcare system; and later on the registration of Chinese medicine practitioners, the licensing of Chinese medicine traders and the registration of proprietary Chinese medicine. This arouses public interest and confidence in a therapeutic science that has a long history and has its efficacy proven by recent western clinical studies.

SCS thus plans to offer a Higher Diploma Programme in Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutical Technology. Students graduating from the programme will achieve a standard which enables them to articulate to degree programmes in Chinese Materia Medica in mainland China or Hong Kong; or to work in the Chinese pharmaceutics related industries.

The programme aims to equip students with knowledge of Chinese pharmaceutical technology. After completing the programme, students should be able to: have an in depth understanding of the basic subjects of traditional Chinese medicine; have an in depth understanding of the specialties of Chinese pharmaceutical technology; have an understanding of the basic subjects of western medicine; achieve a standard which enables them to articulate to degree programmes in Chinese Materia Medica; achieve a standard and acquire skills which enable them to work in the Chinese pharmaceutics related fields.