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COSA Risk Assessment Tool Deployed Across Community Pharmacies to Identify Undiagnosed Patients

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 July 2026 – The Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, LKS Faculty of Medicine , the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed) today announced the launch of Hong Kong’s first structured community pharmacist-led osteoporosis screening programme, built upon the validated Chinese Osteoporosis Screening Algorithm (COSA). The initiative enables trained community pharmacists to proactively identify individuals at high risk of osteoporosis — a condition that affects millions yet remains widely undiagnosed — and to facilitate timely referral to family physicians for clinical evaluation, bone mineral density assessment, and diagnosis, thereby helping hidden patients in community to receive appropriate care.

Despite being one of the most prevalent bone diseases in Hong Kong, osteoporosis is estimated to go undiagnosed and untreated in up to 80% of those affected, largely because the disease is asymptomatic until a fracture occurs. By embedding screening within the familiar and accessible setting of community pharmacies, this programme represents a significant step forward in closing the gap between disease burden and clinical intervention.

Osteoporosis Can Lead to Fragility Fractures with Mortality Rates Comparable to Major Cancers

Osteoporosis affects approximately 30% of women and 8% of men aged over 50 or above in Hong Kong, causing progressive deterioration of bone density that leaves patients vulnerable to fragility fractures — fractures that occur from low-impact forces such as a minor fall or even a sudden movement. These fractures carry consequences far beyond physical injury.

Research demonstrates that the one-year mortality rate following a hip fracture can exceed that of certain common cancers, including prostate and breast cancer. Local hospital data further indicate that nearly half of all patients who sustain a fragility hip fracture do not survive beyond five years. Despite these grave outcomes, public awareness remains alarmingly low: international studies suggest that fewer than one in ten at-risk individuals proactively seek a bone mineral density assessment.

Community Pharmacies as an integral part of Primary Healthcare with Pharmacists Playing a Key Role

Recognising the urgent need for a scalable, community-based approach to osteoporosis detection, community pharmacies are increasingly recognised as one of the vital platforms for screening and health education. Community pharmacies play a unique position in the primary healthcare ecosystem — they are among the most frequently visited and trusted healthcare touchpoints in daily life, offering not only medication dispensing but also accessible health consultations, disease prevention education, risk assessments, and referrals, serving as a critical component of the primary healthcare ecosystem.

Standardising the COSA Screening Process to Reach High-Risk Individuals in the Community

Since 2026, the Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy at HKUMed has collaborated with multiple community pharmacies to introduce a standardised osteoporosis risk assessment protocol into the community, enabling specially trained community pharmacists to utilise the COSA tool to screen high-risk individuals. The assessment requires only four data points — sex, age, body weight, and prior fracture history — and can be completed within minutes during a routine pharmacy visit.

Pharmacists trained in the protocol explain results to patients immediately upon completion. Individuals identified as high-risk receive a written referral to a family physician or other healthcare professionals for further evaluation, including Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) scanning to confirm diagnosis. All participants, regardless of risk classification, receive bone health education, including guidance on calcium and vitamin D intake, balanced diets, appropriate weight-bearing exercise, fall prevention, and other lifestyle modifications. Studies have demonstrated that these non-pharmacological interventions independently reduce fracture incidence, offering bone protection even in the absence of drug therapy.

Promising Early Results: Approximately 60% of High-Risk Individuals Willing to Undergo Assessment

Since the programme’s launch, community pharmacists have proactively approached over 1,000 high-risk individuals — defined as men aged 70 or above, women aged 65 or above, and adults aged 50 or above with at least one additional osteoporosis risk factor — and invited them to complete the COSA assessment. Notably, approximately 60% of those approached agreed to undergo the assessment, demonstrating that community pharmacy-based osteoporosis screening is an effective means of raising public awareness of the disease and encouraging individuals to take an active role in managing their own health. Of those assessed, more than 100 individuals were identified as being at very high risk for osteoporosis and were referred to family physicians for further diagnostic workup. These findings confirm that this service model can effectively reach and identify undiagnosed high-risk individuals hidden within the community, facilitating early detection and timely intervention.

“Osteoporosis is a disease that is too often discovered only after a fracture has already occurred,” said Professor Cheung Ching-lung, Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, HKUMed. “By integrating COSA screening into community pharmacies, we have been able to reach a substantial number of high-risk individuals who had never previously undergone assessment. Establishing routine screening services within community pharmacies not only helps elevate public understanding of bone health but also facilitates the early identification of undiagnoised patients, promoting timely diagnosis and treatment through established referral pathways.”

Proactive Outreach by Community Pharmacies Enhances Screening Accessibility

The Diamond Hill Family Pharmacy, operated by the Christian Family Service Centre (CFSC), is among the participating sites offering osteoporosis screening and health counselling as part of this programme. “Community pharmacies are places people trust and visit regularly. This programme demonstrates precisely how community-based healthcare can extend disease prevention and health education into everyday life. We are delighted to support this clinical model that brings practical osteoporosis screening services into the community so that more high-risk individuals can receive early assessment.” said Mr Gary Kong Ching-yue, Programme Director – Primary Health Care Services, CFSC.

Ms Kuki Ku, a CFSC community pharmacist involved in the programme, highlighted a natural entry point that has proven particularly effective: many older adults visit pharmacies routinely to purchase calcium supplements or vitamin D — products directly associated with bone health. This provides pharmacists with an organic opportunity to initiate a conversation about bone health, introduce the COSA assessment, and deliver personalised guidance on nutrition and exercise to support bone density maintenance. Ms Ku recalled one particularly illustrative case: during a routine COSA screening, she identified an elderly woman as being at high risk for osteoporosis and promptly referred her to a family doctor for further evaluation, including a DXA scan. The scan revealed osteoporosis . She is currently consulting with her doctor on follow-up management to reduce further bone loss.

Ms Shum, a participant of COSA screening service in her eighties living with hypertension, hyperglycaemia, and hypercholesterolaemia, visited the pharmacy to collect a blood glucose meter. At the pharmacist’s invitation, she completed the COSA osteoporosis screening — an encounter she had not anticipated. Her results indicated a high risk for osteoporosis, and she was issued a referral letter alongside personalised advice on fracture-preventive exercise and dietary calcium intake.

Standardised Guidelines and Training Readiness Pave the Way for Expanded Osteoporosis Screening

With Hong Kong’s rapidly ageing population, the number of osteoporosis patients is projected to rise continuously, with hip fracture cases potentially surging several-fold to reach 27,468 cases by 2050. To strengthen community bone health management, the Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy at HKUMed has developed a comprehensive practice guideline for community-based osteoporosis screening services. These guidelines encompass the latest disease management information, standardised screening protocols, public education materials, and referral mechanisms, and have been officially reviewed by The Osteoporosis Society of Hong Kong (OSHK).

Additionally, the Department has launched an online Continuing Pharmacy Education (CPE) course to provide training for pharmacists, supporting the standardised development of the service. With guidelines, training courses, and referral pathways now established, the community screening service is fully equipped for expansion. This sets the foundation for more community pharmacies to adopt the service and enables future integration into District Health Centres (DHCs) and other primary healthcare platforms, working collaboratively to build a comprehensive bone health management network rooted in “early identification, timely diagnosis, and prompt treatment.”

Hashtag: #香港大學醫學院 #藥理及藥劑學系 #骨質疏鬆症 #張正龍教授 #COSA #社區藥房 #骨質疏鬆症篩查 #ChineseOsteoporosisScreeningAlgorithm #COSA #HKUMed #Osteoporosis #CommuniyPharmacy #DepartmentofPharmacologyandPharmacy #ProfCheungChingLung

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About the Chinese Osteoporosis Screening Algorithm (COSA)

The Chinese Osteoporosis Screening Algorithm (COSA) is a risk prediction tool developed by The Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, LKS Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, specifically tailored for the Chinese population. Unlike previous risk prediction tools, such as FRAX and OSTA, which have demonstrated biases due to ethnic differences, COSA offers greater accuracy for Chinese demographics. This algorithm assesses an individual’s risk of developing osteoporosis by posing four straightforward questions related to gender, weight, age, and fracture history, achieving an accuracy rate between 74% and 94%.

以評估工具COSA深入社區主動找出隱形患者

香港 – Media OutReach Newswire – 2026年7月23日 – 骨質疏鬆症患者骨骼脆弱，骨折風險顯著增加，嚴重者可致殘甚至死亡。然而，由於疾病初期毫無明顯病徵，高達八成的骨質疏鬆症患者在骨折發生前從未獲得適當治療。為此，香港大學李嘉誠醫學院（港大醫學院）藥理及藥劑學系首次為社區藥劑師度身訂造，以「華人骨質疏鬆篩查工具（COSA）」為基礎，讓藥劑師能夠在社區層面提供骨質疏鬆症篩查服務，主動識別高風險人士，並轉介至社區家庭醫生作進一步評估、骨質密度檢查及診斷，協助隱藏於社區的患者及早獲得適切治理。

骨質疏鬆症可致脆性骨折 死亡率可與主要癌症相約

骨質疏鬆症為本港常見骨骼疾病，在五十歲以上的人口中，約30%女士及8%男士受影響。患者即使僅遇輕微碰撞，亦可能出現「脆性骨折」，不僅損害活動能力，更顯著增加死亡風險。研究顯示，髖骨骨折的死亡率可高於某些常見癌症，例如前列腺癌及乳癌等等，也有醫院數據發現，近半脆性髖骨骨折患者5年內死亡。

然而，由於骨質疏鬆症缺乏明顯徵狀，公眾欠缺警覺性，主動向醫護人員查詢相關檢查的比例極低。外國研究顯示，一般情況下僅約一成病人會主動要求進行骨質密度檢查。

社區藥房是基層醫療重要一環 藥劑師角色關鍵

醫學界一直探索以不同方法鼓勵高危人士接受骨質疏鬆症檢查，從而提高治療率，降低骨折風險。其中，善用社區藥房作為骨質疏鬆症篩查及健康教育平台，被視為一個具潛力的方向。社區藥房是市民日常最常接觸且信賴的醫療服務點，除藥物配售外，社區藥劑師亦提供健康諮詢、疾病預防教育、風險評估及轉介等服務，成為基層醫療體系的重要一環。

標準化COSA篩查流程 深入社區接觸高危人士

香港大學藥理及藥劑學系自2026年起與多間社區藥房合作，將標準化骨質疏鬆症分層風險評估流程引入社區，由接受專業培訓的社區藥劑師運用COSA為高風險人士進行篩查。篩查過程包括收集性別、年齡、體重及骨折病史基本資料。完成評估後，社區藥劑師會即場講解結果，並向高風險人士提供轉介建議，鼓勵他們向家庭醫生或其他醫護專業人員求診，以接受進一步評估及雙能量X光吸收儀（DXA）骨質密度檢查。社區藥劑師亦會向接受評估的人士提供骨骼健康教育，包括鈣質及維他命D攝取、均衡飲食、適量運動、預防跌倒及其他生活習慣建議。研究顯示，即使未接受藥物治療，透過這些非藥物介入措施，亦有助維持骨骼健康及降低骨折風險。

初步結果理想：約六成高危人士願意接受評估

計劃推出至今，社區藥劑師主動接觸逾1,000名骨質疏鬆高危人士（包括70歲或以上男士、65歲或以上女士、50歲或以上並帶有一個骨質疏鬆症風險因素)，並邀請他們進行COSA風險評估。值得留意的是，超過一半（約60%）受邀人士願意接受評估，顯示在社區藥房進行骨質疏鬆症篩查，能有效提升市民對疾病的關注及參與健康管理的意願。在完成評估的人士當中，發現超過100人患上骨質疏鬆症的風險甚高，需要轉介至家庭醫生作進一步檢查及診斷，這些都反映這服務模式能有效接觸及識別潛藏於社區的高風險人士，促進及早發現及及時介入。

港大醫學院藥理及藥劑學系副教授張正龍教授表示：「骨質疏鬆往往在骨折發生後才被發現，但透過將COSA篩查帶入社區藥房，我們成功接觸到大量從未接受過評估的高危人士。透過在社區藥房設立恆常化的分層風險篩檢服務，不但能夠提升公眾對骨骼健康的認識，更有助及早識別潛在患者，並透過轉介機制促進及時診斷及治療。」

社區藥房主動接觸高危族群 提升篩查可及性

基督教家庭服務中心轄下的鑽石山家庭藥房，是其中一間提供骨質疏鬆症篩查及諮詢服務的機構。基督教家庭服務中心服務總監（基層醫療健康服務）江政宇先生表示：「社區藥房是許多市民熟悉且容易接觸的健康服務點。是次計劃展示了社區為本的醫療服務如何在日常場景中支援疾病預防及健康教育。我們非常高興能支持這個模式，將實用的骨質疏鬆症篩查服務帶到社區，讓更多高風險人士能夠及早接受評估。」

參與計劃的基督教家庭服務中心社區藥劑師古凱琪女士指出，不少長者定期到藥房購買鈣片、維他命D等營養補充劑，這正好成為一個理想的切入點。藥劑師可以從營養攝取與骨骼健康的關係入手，引導長者進行骨質疏鬆症風險評估，並即場教授保持骨質密度的飲食及運動貼士。古凱琪女士分享她曾替一位女性長者進行COSA骨質疏鬆症篩查，發現她患上骨質疏鬆症風險很高，於是建議她接受DXA檢查，並轉介她至家庭醫生跟進。經過檢查後證實她患有骨質疏鬆症，她正與醫生商討後續治理，以減慢骨質流失。

另一位接受COSA骨質疏鬆篩檢的岑女士患有「三高」，因前往藥房領取驗血糖機而受邀接受篩查，結果顯示她患有骨質疏鬆症的風險很高。藥劑師除了提供轉介信外，也教導她關於預防骨質疏鬆症的運動及營養資訊。岑女士表示，過往她對骨質疏鬆症認識不深，幸好這次藥劑師的主動接觸，令她明白骨質疏鬆症的嚴重後果，也更了解如何在日常飲食及運動更有效預防骨折，加倍注重骨骼健康。

服務指引及配套準備就緒 支援骨質疏鬆症篩查服務擴展

隨着人口老化，骨質疏鬆症患者人數預計將持續上升，髖骨骨折個案數目更可能颷升數倍至2050年的27,468宗。為加強社區骨骼健康管理，港大醫學院藥理及藥劑學系已制定骨質疏鬆症社區篩查服務指引，涵蓋最新的疾病治療資訊、標準化篩查流程、公眾教育材料及轉介機制，並已獲香港骨質疏鬆學會審核。此外，港大醫學院藥理及藥劑學系亦已開辦線上持續專業教育(CPE)課程，為藥劑師提供培訓，支援服務標準化發展。隨着服務指引、培訓課程及轉介機制相繼建立，骨質疏鬆症社區篩查服務已具備擴展條件，有利更多社區藥房設立相關服務，並推廣至地區康健中心及其他基層醫療服務平台，共同建立「早識別、早診斷、早治療」的骨骼健康管理網絡。

Hashtag: #香港大學醫學院 #藥理及藥劑學系 #骨質疏鬆症 #張正龍教授 #COSA #社區藥房 #骨質疏鬆症篩查

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關於香港大學李嘉誠醫學院藥理及藥劑學系

香港大學李嘉誠醫學院藥理及藥劑學系致力於在藥物發現、開發及臨床應用方面推動卓越的研究與教育。學系結合基礎、轉化及臨床科學，並與專業藥劑實務緊密連結，以促進精準用藥並提升病人治療成效。憑藉跨學科合作及國際領先的科研實力，學系在應對全球及本地公共衛生挑戰方面發揮重要作用。

關於華人骨質疏鬆篩查問卷(COSA)

華人骨質疏鬆篩查問卷(COSA)是由香港大學李嘉誠醫學院藥理及藥劑學系研發，專為華人而設的骨質疏鬆症風險預測工具，由於以往使用的風險預測工具如FRAX、OSTA等都存在種族差異導致的偏差，因此針對華人地區，COSA的準確性將更高。COSA只需透過四條簡單的問題，包括：性別、體重、年齡及骨折史，便可分析出個人患上骨質疏鬆症的風險程度，準確度達74-94%。

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Hashtag: #香港國際機場

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

香港 – Media OutReach Newswire – 2026年7月23日 – 为迎接暑假旅游旺季，HKairport Rewards 推出夏日购物礼遇，由即日起至8月31日，于机场店铺或 HKairportShop.com 机场网上商店消费，任何消费可享2X 积分。使用支付宝消费满指定金额，更可享高达港币/ 人民币1,000元满减现金券。消费越多，奖赏越丰富，于出发前免费登记成为HKairport Rewards会员，在启程前尽享购物及餐奖赏，为暑假旅程揭开精彩序幕。

机场夏日奖赏惊喜不断
1. 享2X 积分，回赠高达 8%
任何消费均可享 2 X奖赏积分，回赠高达 8%。每消费港币 $1 可获 2 奖赏积分；每 50 积分即可兑换 1 HKIA Dollar，可当作港币 $1于机场超过 100 间参与商户及餐厅使用。

2. 支付宝签账奖赏，高达港币／人民币 1,000 元满减电子现金券 (先到先得，送完即止)

• 奖赏1 (适用于Alipay HK/ 支付宝内地用户)：于机场店铺或 HKairportShop.com 机场网上商店以支付宝消费，即可享购物奖赏，获赠高达港币／人民币 1,000 元满减电子现金券。

* 港币/人民币50、450 及 1,000 元满减电子现金券分别适用于下一笔单一净消费满港币/ 人民币100、900 及 2,000 元之交易。
* 每位会员于三个消费级别中可换领一张满减电子现金券。

• 奖赏2 (适用于Alipay HK/ 支付宝内地用户)：于指定餐饮商户或自助点餐系统单一消费净额满港币／人民币 100 元，即可享港币／人民币 10 元立减优惠，让旅客在出发前尽享机场美食。

按此了解更多详情。

同时，香港国际机场推出「飞尝滋味赏」，即日起至8月31日于机场选购手信及礼品满额即送限定蛋挞味Gelato及机场独家奶茶味牛角酥! 同时设有多个巨型蛋挞、奶茶及菠萝包打卡装置，让旅客一尝香港地道滋味之余，同时尽情打卡。

按此了解更多详情。

注: 优惠一不能与优惠二同时使用。活动受相关条款及细则约束。

旅客可灵活选择于机场店铺即场购物，或透过网上商店预先选购心仪商品，轻松添置旅游所需，迎接精彩夏日旅程。
Hashtag: #香港国际机场

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 July 2026 – Watsons, the flagship health and beauty brand of AS Watson, today announced the launch of Watsons Evergreen, as part of AS Watson’s 185^th anniversary celebrations. To elevate its significance and create a consistent and credible expression across markets, Watsons partnered with the Pantone Color Institute™, the world’s leading authority on colour. Combining Watsons’ rich heritage with Pantone’s expertise, the collaboration helped define and articulate a global brand asset that captures the essence of Watsons and its vision for the future.

A Colour That Brings the Brand to Life
Watsons Evergreen is a vibrant blue-green hue that symbolises everyday vitality, care and reassurance, reflecting Watsons’ purpose of helping customers LOOK GOOD, DO GOOD, FEEL GREAT every day. As a distinctive visual identity, it creates a shared language that connects Watsons markets worldwide.

From Watsons’ logo and store design to merchandising displays, digital channels and Own Brand products, Watsons Evergreen has long been a familiar presence across customer touchpoints. The Watsons Evergreen campaign will roll out across 16 markets, including Asia, Europe and the Middle-East, through a series of customer and community activations, as well as a curated range of products, reinforcing the brand’s long-standing connection with customers and communities around the world.

Celebrating a Heritage of Trusted Care
At the heart of the initiative is a simple belief: Watsons has always been there for customers and will continue to be for generations to come.

For 185 years, Watsons has supported customers in their everyday health needs, beauty routines and wellbeing moments, whether in-store or online. Watsons Evergreen reflects this enduring relationship, serving as a symbol of consistency, trust and care in an ever-evolving world.

Jared DeGuzman, Customer Director of Watsons International, said, “For 185 years, Watsons has helped customers feel healthier, happier and more confident in their daily lives. Watsons Evergreen captures that role in a simple yet powerful way. By partnering with Pantone, we’ve transformed our iconic brand colour into a global symbol of vitality, care and wellbeing that will connect customers across every Watsons market.”

Laurie Pressman, Vice President of the Pantone Color Institute™, added, “Watsons Evergreen captures the essence of a brand that has stood the test of time while continuing to grow and evolve. It is a colour that speaks of vitality and longevity, and of a deep, lasting connection to the customers and communities Watsons has served for generations.”

As Watsons marks this milestone anniversary, Watsons Evergreen stands as both a reflection of its rich heritage and a symbol of its forward-looking vision – uniting past and future in one distinctive expression of the brand.

Hashtag: #ASWatson

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Watsons

Watsons is the leading O+O (Offline plus Online) health and beauty retailer in Asia, currently operating 8,000 stores and more than 1,500 pharmacies in 16 Asian, European and Middle-East markets.

Watsons is named as the No.1 Personal Care and Beauty retailer in Asia*, providing personalised advice and counselling in health, beauty and personal care on top of its market-leading product range, making customers LOOK GOOD, DO GOOD, FEEL GREAT every day. Watsons is the flagship health and beauty brand of AS Watson Group.

Launched in 2019, Watsons’ Asia One Pass rewards our customers with local-member privileges and enables them earn points when they shop with Watsons in ten markets in Asia including Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Türkiye and the Philippines.

*Campaign Asia-Pacific’s Top 50 Brands survey with 10,000 respondents across 6 Asian countries

About AS Watson Group

Established in 1841, AS Watson Group is one of the world’s longest-standing and most recognised retail companies with roots in Asia. Today, the company operates over 17,000 stores across 12 retail brands in 31 markets, employing 130,000 people globally. This makes AS Watson Group the largest international health and beauty retailer in the world.

In the fiscal year 2025, AS Watson Group reported revenue of over US$26 billion. The company’s technology-enabled O+O (Offline plus Online) platforms serve over 6 billion shoppers annually, seamlessly integrating physical and digital retail experiences.

AS Watson Group supported over 180 charitable and non-profit organisations every year, dedicating over 40,000 hours of volunteer work to serve over 370,000 people in need in our operating markets.

AS Watson Group is also a member of the world-renowned multinational conglomerate CK Hutchison Holdings Limited, which has four core businesses – ports and related services, retail, infrastructure and telecommunications in over 50 countries.

Please visit www.aswatson.com/our-company/o-and-o-strategy/ for more information.

香港 – Media OutReach Newswire – 2026年7月23日 – 屈臣氏集團旗下旗艦健康與美容品牌屈臣氏今日宣布推出全新品牌色彩「屈臣氏長青綠」（Watsons Evergreen），慶祝集團185周年。屈臣氏與全球色彩權威機構Pantone Color Institute™攜手合作，於全球市場建立一致、鮮明且具公信力的品牌形象。結合屈臣氏深厚的品牌傳承與Pantone的專業色彩知識，雙方共同打造這項全球品牌項目，展現屈臣氏的品牌理念及未來願景。

以色彩演繹品牌理念
「屈臣氏長青綠」是一種充滿活力的藍綠色調，象徵活力、關愛與信任，充分體現屈臣氏一直以來致力讓顧客變得更健康、更美麗的品牌承諾。作為最具代表性的品牌視覺元素，「屈臣氏長青綠」成為屈臣氏全球各營運市場的共同品牌語言，進一步連繫品牌與顧客。

從屈臣氏標誌、店舖設計、商品陳列、線上平台到自家品牌產品，「屈臣氏長青綠」一直是顧客熟悉的品牌象徵。是次「屈臣氏長青綠」計劃將於全球16個市場逐步推出，包括亞洲、歐洲及中東市場，透過一系列顧客和社區活動，及精選產品系列，進一步鞏固品牌與顧客及社區之間長久建立的聯繫。

傳承185載關愛始終如一
這項計劃源於一個簡單的信念：屈臣氏一直陪伴顧客成長，未來亦將繼續與顧客攜手同行。

185年來，屈臣氏一直透過線下及線上平台，守護顧客的健康、美麗及生活所需。「屈臣氏長青綠」體現品牌與顧客之間長久以來的深厚連繫，象徵著在瞬息萬變的世界中始終如一的關愛與陪伴。

屈臣氏國際顧客總監Jared DeGuzman表示：「185年來，屈臣氏一直致力幫助顧客活得更健康、更快樂及更有自信，『屈臣氏長青綠』以簡單而有力的方式展現這份承諾。透過與Pantone合作，我們將標誌性的品牌顏色昇華為代表活力、關愛與健康生活的全球品牌象徵，連繫全球各地的屈臣氏顧客。」

Pantone Color Institute™副總裁Laurie Pressman表示：「『屈臣氏長青綠』完美演繹一個歷久彌新、與時並進的品牌理念。這種色彩不僅象徵活力與傳承，更展現屈臣氏多年來與顧客及社區之間深厚的連繫。」

適逢屈臣氏慶祝重要的周年里程碑，「屈臣氏長青綠」不僅承載品牌豐富的歷史傳承，更象徵未來的願景，以獨特而鮮明的品牌語言連繫過去、現在與未來，延續品牌陪伴顧客成長的承諾。

Hashtag: #屈臣氏集團

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

關於屈臣氏

屈臣氏是亞洲最大的線下及線上（O+O）健康與美容零售商，業務遍佈16個亞洲、歐洲及中東市場，經營8,000家店舖，當中超過1,500家提供專業藥房服務。

屈臣氏為亞洲第一個人護理及美容零售商*，為顧客提供個人化的諮詢及建議，配以傲視同儕的多元化產品種類，令顧客每天都能LOOK GOOD, DO GOOD, FEEL GREAT。屈臣氏是屈臣氏集團旗下的保健及美容旗艦品牌。

屈臣氏Asia One Pass於2019年推出，讓顧客旅遊時，於10個亞洲市場的屈臣氏店舖享有當地會員優惠及賺取積分，涵括中國內地、香港、澳門、台灣、新加坡、馬來西亞、泰國、印尼、土耳其及菲律賓等市場。

*《Campaign Asia-Pacific》「五十大品牌」於亞洲六個市場訪問逾10,000名受訪者的調查結果

關於屈臣氏集團

屈臣氏集團於1841年創立，扎根於亞洲，是全球歷史最悠久、最備受肯定的零售商之一。集團現時在31個市場經營12個品牌合共超過17,000家商店，並在全球聘用約13萬人，讓屈臣氏集團成為全球最大的國際健康與美容零售集團。

集團2025年財政年度的營業額超過260億美元，每年透過我們的O+O（線下及線上）平台服務超過60億名顧客，為他們帶來無縫的線下及線上零售體驗。

集團每年為超過180個慈善及非牟利機構提供支援，在各個營運市場服務逾40,000小時，為超過37萬名有需要人士送上關懷。

屈臣氏集團是跨國綜合企業長江和記實業有限公司的成員。長江和記業務遍及超過50個國家，經營港口及相關服務、零售、基建及電訊等四項核心業務。

詳情請瀏覽www.aswatson.com/our-company/o-and-o-strategy/。

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 July 2026 – Market research consultancy Alylytiq LLP today announced the launch of Automytiq, a suite of AI-powered research solutions designed to make professional-grade market insights accessible to Singapore’s small and medium-sized enterprises.

For decades, professional market research has been the preserve of large corporates — the only players who could justify studies routinely costing tens of thousands of dollars. SMEs, who arguably have the least room for error, have been left to make market decisions on instinct. AI has now broken that equation. A commissioned study that would typically cost SGD 30,000 can be delivered through Automytiq for around SGD 6,000 — an 80 per cent reduction. The savings come from using AI to automate the most labour-intensive stages of the research process, while Alylytiq’s senior researchers remain in the loop at every stage for interpretation and quality control.

Automytiq is a distinct, productised offering, separate from Alylytiq’s core consulting practice. An Automytiq engagement runs to a standardised scope — sharply defined questions, streamlined fieldwork, and a focused report — which is what makes the lower price point possible. Alylytiq’s bespoke engagements for corporate clients are a different service: fully custom-designed, senior-led from research design through to analysis and strategic recommendation, often spanning multiple markets and methodologies, and priced to reflect that depth. The firm positions Automytiq as extending professional research to businesses that could never access it, not as a repricing of its consulting work.

Automytiq covers the full research cycle through four connected solutions:

Market Intelligence. AI-assisted secondary research that maps an SME’s target market — market size, competitor landscape, and customer trends — drawing on licensed and publicly available data sources.

Guided Brief-to-Proposal. A simple structured questionnaire captures what the business owner wants to learn. Automytiq transforms those answers into a full research proposal, giving SMEs a professionally scoped study without needing in-house research expertise.

Automated Research Design. Approved proposals are converted directly into fieldwork-ready research instruments — discussion guides, screeners, and questionnaires — cutting design time from weeks to days.

Bespoke Story Reporting. Once data is collected, Automytiq translates the raw results into fully customised reports built around a narrative that tells the business what the numbers mean and what to do next — not a template dashboard.

Automytiq has already been deployed in live client work. For SME payments fintech Handshake Finance, Alylytiq used Automytiq to map the company’s target market and competitive landscape, sharpening the focus of its go-to-market efforts. For business consultancy Anton Solutions Group, the platform supported a larger client engagement by delivering insights into financial risk management opportunities across new markets.

Anton Solutions Group, which engaged Alylytiq on a client project, said it was “genuinely impressed” by the firm’s approach. Using AI, a short discovery call, and a focused questionnaire, Alylytiq delivered a comprehensive primary research report within a day, enabling a faster transition into in-depth market analysis. The consultancy added that it looks forward to referring suitable projects to Alylytiq.

“As an early-stage company, every dollar and every week counts. Alylytiq gave us a clear, evidence-based picture of our market, our competition, and the customers we should lead with — and just as importantly, told us which questions still needed real fieldwork to answer. It sharpened decisions we would otherwise have made on instinct, at a price a company our size could actually justify,” said Christopher Chan, Co-Founder of Handshake Finance.

“SMEs make the same high-stakes decisions large corporates do — which market to enter, which customers to serve, where to spend a limited marketing dollar — but they’ve been asked to make them on gut feel because proper research was priced for someone else,” said Wei Shen, Founder and Principal Strategist of Alylytiq.

The launch lands in the middle of a wider debate about whether AI is making professional research obsolete. Alylytiq’s position is that the barrier for SMEs was never just cost — it was expertise: knowing what to ask, how to structure a research question, and how to tell when an answer is wrong.

“Any business owner can ask a chatbot for a market estimate today. The problem is they have no way of telling whether that answer is grounded in real data or invented — and acting on a confident wrong answer costs far more than a study ever would,” said Wei Shen. “That’s why Automytiq isn’t a tool we hand over. Our senior researchers design the questions and validate every output before it reaches the client. The AI changes the economics; the humans protect the answer.”

Automytiq is available to Singapore SMEs now. Businesses can learn more at www.alylytiq.com.Hashtag: #Alylytiq

https://www.alylytiq.com/

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Alylytiq

Alylytiq LLP is a Singapore-based market research and insights consultancy founded on the principle that every number tells a story. Led by senior researchers with two decades of experience across global agencies and financial services, Alylytiq works across brand equity, product innovation, competitor benchmarking, customer experience, and market understanding for clients ranging from multinational corporates to growing regional businesses. www.alylytiq.com

GUILIN, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 22 July 2026 – Known worldwide for its dramatic karst landscapes, Guilin has long been one of southern China’s most iconic travel destinations. As travelers increasingly seek deeper connections with local communities, rural Guilin offers a different way to experience the countryside. Here, visitors are not simply observers of the landscape — they become part of it, walking through rice terraces, cycling along rivers, tasting local cuisine, and discovering traditions that have evolved alongside nature for generations.

In the latest season of Village Voyage, CGTN host Julian Waghann from the United States and Filipino traveler Eliza Arce journey into Longsheng and Yangshuo, exploring how the mountains, rivers and people of Guilin continue to inspire a unique rural lifestyle.

Terraces shaped by generations of farming wisdom

Rising high in the mountains of Guangxi, the Longji Rice Terraces are far more than a spectacular agricultural landscape. Carved into the hillsides over centuries by generations of local communities, they embody a remarkable balance between human ingenuity and the natural world.

For local villager Liao Yanmei, the terraces are inseparable from everyday life. “They mean everything to us,” she says. “They’re our life.” Today, she is leading efforts to restore and preserve the ancient terraces, ensuring this living heritage continues to thrive for generations to come.

Julian and Eliza arrive during the Shuyang Festival, one of Longsheng’s most important annual farming celebrations. Walking along the narrow paths between the fields, they join villagers in the traditional seedling-throwing ritual and carry torches through the illuminated terraces as night falls.

For Eliza, the landscape evokes memories of the Banaue Rice Terraces in her native Philippines. “They’re in the northern part of the country,” she says. “They were also carved into the mountains by local communities. I was amazed by how closely our rice terrace cultures mirror each other. It made me realize we share deeper roots. And, in that moment, I truly felt at home.”

Through these encounters, Julian and Eliza discover that the Shuyang Festival no longer marks only the beginning of the farming season. It has also become an immersive cultural experience, inviting visitors to step into the rhythms of rural life and discover a new way of experiencing China’s countryside.

The secret behind the world’s long hair village

Deep within the Longji Rice Terraces lies Huangluo Yao Village, home to the Red Yao people and renowned for its centuries-old long hair tradition. For generations, Red Yao women have cared for their famously long, glossy hair using fermented rice water, a natural hair treatment passed down from one generation to the next.

“Long hair, in Red Yao culture, symbolizes longevity and prosperity,” said local cultural ambassador Haili. “We believe that healthy hair reflects a healthy body, bringing both long life and good fortune.”

Drawing on generations of ecological knowledge, the Red Yao have long used rice water together with locally grown herbs to create a natural hair-care recipe. Rooted in the surrounding landscape, the tradition reflects a sustainable way of living that values natural resources and respects the rhythms of the environment.

Beyond their long hair tradition, the Red Yao are equally renowned for their exquisite costume craftsmanship. According to master artisan Pan Jifeng, completing a single traditional outfit can take an entire year. Weaving, batik, natural dyeing, and intricate embroidery come together in garments whose patterns are inspired by the mountains, animals, and everyday life, preserving generations of cultural memory.

Beyond the landscape: A new way to experience rural Guilin

While Guilin has long attracted visitors with its iconic scenery, a new generation of travelers is discovering the region through more immersive experiences.

In Yangshuo, the mountains and rivers have become a playground for outdoor exploration. Cycling through countryside paths, hiking among karst peaks, drifting along rivers on bamboo rafts, and experiencing cliffside adventures offer visitors a chance to engage with the landscape rather than simply admire it.

Supported by convenient transportation, diverse outdoor activities and growing tourism facilities, Yangshuo is emerging as an international destination where nature, culture and local life come together.

More than a journey: Villages connected by nature and culture

Every village tells its own story.

Some are written in the mountains, others in the rivers. Some live on through songs and festivals, while others survive through everyday traditions passed from one generation to the next.

From the rice terraces to the Karst landscapes, Guilin shows how rural communities continue to grow from the landscapes that shaped them — welcoming new visitors while keeping their own stories alive.

Hashtag: #CGTN #Guilin

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

BINZHOU, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 22 July 2026 – On July 18, the 2026 Shandong Innovation-Driven Development Conference & 7^th Binzhou Talent Festival was held at the Yellow River Delta Trading Center in Binzhou. The event brought together academicians from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, high-level leading talents from various fields, university research experts, and heads of sci-tech innovation enterprises to explore pathways for industrial upgrading and discuss strategies for innovation-driven development.

Co-hosted by the Shandong Association for Science and Technology, the CPC Binzhou Municipal Committee, and the Binzhou Municipal People’s Government, the conference was themed “Gathering Wisdom in the Bohai Bay· Leading the New Future — Building a New Landscape for a Modern Industrial System.” Its core mission was to promote the deep integration of technological innovation with industrial innovation.

The conference includes one main forum, five concurrent events, and nine thematic sessions. Following the conference, a series of industry-specific matchmaking activities will be launched, covering green low-carbon power, rope nets, kitchenware, artificial intelligence, fine alumina, and other sectors, forming a long-term, year-round sci-tech innovation service chain.

Tailored to Binzhou’s development needs for 11 key industrial chains and its modern industrial cluster, the conference aims to promote the deep integration of the talent chain, industrial chain, and innovation chain. The event established a high-quality platform for talent exchange, sci-tech innovation empowerment, and project landing, effectively channeling the intellectual resources of national and provincial academic societies to support the high-quality development of Binzhou’s industries and injecting strong momentum for innovation-driven growth.

Hashtag: #Binzhou

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

BINZHOU, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 22 July 2026 – On July 19, Shandong’s Befar Group achieved a technological breakthrough in four key areas of process, engineering, testing, and filling to bring its high-purity hydrogen fluoride (HF) for semiconductor applications to the 6N grade (99.9999%). This milestone fills a production gap for high-purity hydrogen fluoride in Shandong Province.

High-purity hydrogen fluoride is a key raw material used in semiconductor chip etching and cleaning processes, often referred to as the “chemical scalpel” of semiconductor manufacturing. The 6N-grade product is an essential material for advanced process nodes of 28 nanometers and below. For years, core production technologies for this grade have been mainly provided by overseas companies, with domestic supply heavily reliant on imports.

Befar Group overcame key technical hurdles, including multi-stage distillation coupling, selection of low-precipitation equipment materials, cylinder cleanliness and protection, and precise detection of trace impurities. The company maintains key metal-ion impurity levels below 1 part per billion (ppb), solving the problem of secondary contamination throughout the entire production, storage, and transportation chain. To date, the company has completed the construction and commissioning of a 50-ton-per-year high-purity hydrogen fluoride cylinder filling line. Having obtained the cylinder filling license from the Shandong Special Equipment Inspection Institute, the company has begun introducing its products to major customers at home and abroad. This marks a complete closed loop from laboratory R&D to industrial-scale production.

Thanks to its mass production capabilities, Befar Group will continue to deepen its expertise in high-end specialty gas technologies, expand its product portfolio of halogen-based electronic specialty gases, and develop electronic-grade hydrogen chloride, hydrogen bromide, and other series products. By increasing locally supplied capacity, the company aims to ensure the secure and stable operation of the semiconductor industry chain.

Hashtag: #Binzhou

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.