Abstract

Tradition and Innovation: Current Status of Wildlife Protection in Traditional Chinese Medicine in Hong Kong, Public Perception Disparities, and Sustainability Strategies

As an international hub for Chinese medicinal material trade, Hong Kong faces the dual challenge of preserving traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) while protecting endangered wildlife. Based on a situational experiment survey of 1,556 citizens, this study analyzes public acceptance disparities regarding substitutes for five CITES-listed species: tiger bone, bear bile, Tokay gecko, seahorse, and saiga antelope horn. The results show that the availability of substitutes primarily drives acceptance of bear bile and Tokay gecko; the conservation status of wildlife mainly influences acceptance of tiger bone; and price is the most sensitive factor for saiga antelope horn and seahorse. Accordingly, this paper proposes species-differentiated governance strategies, integrating mainland China’s “permit + labeling” system with Hong Kong’s international network advantages, and outlines a feasible pathway for Hong Kong to develop a “Green TCM” demonstration zone.