Online stores offer mainland capsules unregistered in Hong Kong amid buying craze

A mainland version of a Chinese medicine capsule said to alleviate Covid-19 symptoms has appeared in Hong Kong online stores, although it is not registered in the city and cannot be sold. 

Lianhua Qingwen capsules have sold out in Hong Kong outlets as citizens stock up both Chinese and western medicine – in case they have to stay home for own treatment after catching Covid-19. 

Two different versions of the capsule are sold in Hong Kong and on the mainland. The mainland version in blue and white boxes are offered by some online shops.

"The capsules, which have run out of stock for long, are available again... 24 capsules per box, white box,” according to a Facebook post. The price was not stated in the post. 

Another social media page offers the capsules for HK$80 per box, or HK$700 for 10 boxes.

One of the pages claimed the capsules are given out as "gift” and that they are “not for sale". The shop says it does not want to be involved in parallel trading, and will give a box of the capsure to customers who buy HK$100 of other products. 

The company said it got the medicine from Shengping Village, Huilongzhen, Deqing in Guangdong province after "sending all its staff to search for the medicine for friends in Hong Kong through different channels and pharmacies.”

Chuan Chiong Company, the Hong Kong distributor of Lianhua Qingwen, said on its social media page that the capsules in white packages are unregistered proprietary Chinese medicines, which one cannot sell or own in Hong Kong. 

It also said there is not enough stocks of the Hong Kong version due to surging demand, but the distributor has asked the manufacturer to increase production as soon as possible. 

The Hong Kong version of Lianhua Qingwen was sold for HK$48 per box of 24 capsules previously. 

According to the Chinese Medicine Ordinance, no person shall sell, import or possess any proprietary Chinese medicines unless it is registered. The maximum penalty is a fine of HK$100,000 and two years' imprisonment.