19 November 2025
GQ Local Heroes：Tinly Wong
Known as the “Heroic Doctor”, Professor Tinly Wong Tin-chee is a leading figure in Hong Kong’s Traditional Chinese Medicine community. From founding the Herbalgy brand to establishing the Community Med Care non-profit organisation, he has injected the spirit of traditional Chinese medicine into modern living, helping countless people in need. In Professor Wong's point of view, health is not just about one’s physical condition. As he says, "Only when both body and mind are healthy can one truly enjoy every moment of life."
Professor Wong was born into a family of Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners, and his background has profoundly shaped his current identity and mission. In speaking with him, his voice both warm and resolute, one can truly feel that he embodies the qualities of a “Heroic Doctor”.
Looking back on his childhood, Professor Wong recalls how his parents’ actions served as a mirror, revealing the origins of his later passion for medicine and public service. “My parents have inspired me from a young age. Growing up in Sham Shui Po, a place brimming with the energy of everyday life, I personally experienced the hardships of ordinary people and witnessed the lack of medical resources along with the public’s desire for them.” His father, Wong To Yick, used affordable remedies to help those in need, instilling that spirit deeply within him. “I understood from a young age that a doctor’s responsibility is not just to treat illness, but to help society and individuals,” he stated.
In those days, many neighbours would refrain from seeing the doctor unless they were truly ill, but would earnestly seek medical attention when needed. This simple, grounded approach to healthcare left a profound imprint on him. “However, I’ve also observed a troubling trend: people nowadays often wait until clear symptoms emerge before seeing a doctor. This ‘wait-and-treat’ mentality often allows illnesses to become more difficult to manage. As a doctor, I hope to change this mindset, helping people to understand that prevention is better than cure, and teaching them how to take good care of their health even before they get sick.”
His family business began with the Man Po Tong Yick Kee Herbal Tea Shop and the Chinese medicine clinic in Sham Shui Po, later expanding into the preparation of Traditional Chinese Medicines and “Wood Lock” medicated oil. It has since evolved into a diversified healthcare brand. Reflecting on his father’s relentless pursuit of innovation—such as the time he modified a juice extractor to attract more customers—Professor Wong shared his understanding that traditional medicine can integrate with modern technology to create products that meet the needs of the times, so long as the core principles of “addressing the root cause of illness” and “treating pain by addressing the acupoints” are upheld. “These experiences have taught me that traditional medicine doesn’t have to be conservative; it can be integrated with modern science and technology to create health products better suited to modern people,” he said.
Traditional medicine doesn’t have to be conservative; it can be integrated with modern science and technology to create health products better suited to modern people.
By the 1990s, Professor Wong had founded brands like Herbalgy, Touch-Cool, and Carthami Flos. Leveraging decades of clinical experience and a passion for Hong Kong’s traditional Chinese medicine, he combined affordable Hong Kong-style medicated oils, magnetic therapy, herbal remedies, and physiotherapy to build the highly popular Herbalgy brand. The brand focuses on alleviating the muscle and joint pains common among city dwellers and has been well-loved across different regions for many years.
“Pain is essentially a signal from the body,” he explained. “It arises from poor qi and blood circulation, but once the flow is restored, the body can begin to heal itself. Therefore I select high-quality raw ingredients from around the world—such as Chinese herbs, Spanish olive oil, and French fragrances—to develop more targeted and effective therapeutic treatments. For example, my Herbalgy Touch-Cool can be massaged directly onto painful areas to relax muscles and improve blood circulation anytime, anywhere.”
Professor Wong also emphasised that young people are the hope of the future. To engage them, his products have been evolving to appeal to a younger demographic in the hopes of cultivating a better understanding of health concepts and raising disease prevention awareness from an early age. In recent years, Herbalgy has not only expanded into the youth market, but has supported major sporting events. This included being the title sponsor for the “Herbalgy Trophy” at the historic Arsenal versus Tottenham Hotspur tournament during the Hong Kong Football Festival 2025. Professor Wong attended in person and presented the trophy to Tottenham on behalf of the organisers. This not only demonstrated the strength of a local brand but also highlighted Wong’s influence in promoting the exchange between traditional Chinese medicine culture and the international community.
On the day of the interview, Professor Wong shared his habit of exercising every morning—a practice that has become a steadfast part of his daily routine. “I also practice tai chi and traditional archery. [This habit] perhaps stems from a severe illness I had as a child that left me hospitalised for nearly two years. That experience made me deeply appreciate the importance of health and preventing illness before it strikes. I often say that in archery, there are hits and misses; no one can hit the target every time. You must learn the mindset of accepting ‘defeat’ before you can welcome ‘victory.’ But physical and mental well-being are things you can control and improve.”
Everyone can be their own hero, so long as they have empathy, kindness, and the ability to act. I often say that success is not measured by momentary achievements, but by consistent acts of kindness and contribution.
Having devoted decades to the field of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Professor Wong is not only what one might call a “Heroic Doctor,” consistently helping others escape suffering, but an actual hero in his own right. However, he holds his own personal perspective on such accolades. “In my heart, a hero isn’t some legendary figure, but anyone with the courage to help others and the willingness to dedicate themselves wholeheartedly. Everyone can be their own hero, so long as they have empathy, kindness, and the ability to act. I often say that success is not measured by momentary achievements, but by consistent acts of kindness and contribution.”
In 2018, Professor Wong, also a philanthropist, founded Community Med Care. The centre, located at 75 Un Chau Street, Sham Shui Po, is housed within a nearly century-old, classical Southern Chinese-style tenement building—a structure that has witnessed Hong Kong’s evolution from a small fishing village to a metropolis. Yet through it all, one thing remains unchanged: the district’s unique human touch. “Sham Shui Po is like my hometown, filled with memories and emotion. If you pass by Nam Cheong Street in a car, you can see the Lion Rock—a spiritual symbol of this city’s resilience, perseverance, and unity. To me, Hong Kong is a fiercely contested ground, but is still a place brimming with creativity and opportunity. The city’s greatest advantage lies in its fusion of Eastern and Western traditions with the modern. I also hope to help Traditional Chinese Medicine break free from its conventional framework, integrate it globally, and benefit more people.”
The charitable spirit embodied by Professor Wong’s father lies at the core of Community Med Care. Under the “Angel Action” initiative, the non-profit organisation has provided free TCM consultations to over 1,300 children with autism, cerebral palsy, and brain injuries over the years. “My philanthropic work stems from a place of care and compassion for the vulnerable. Seeing these children recover through our efforts—for instance, seeing autistic children gain the ability to communicate normally—brings me the greatest happiness and inspires me to keep exploring more effective TCM treatments and therapies,” he said, his eyes clear with conviction and passion.
Every child Professor Wong has helped represents an extension of the profound love and compassion that lies at the heart of his practice. He firmly believes that everyone deserves an equal right to medical care and rehabilitation, and utilises his skills and experience to help them emerge from the shadows and rekindle hope for the future. Through his sharing, we come to understand that being a “Heroic Doctor” is not merely about practising medicine—it is about passing on great love and responsibility. He has always led by action, inspiring future generations to uphold the noble mission of healing through their own deeds of kindness.
In a city as commercially prosperous and culturally diverse as Hong Kong, Professor Wong has always sought balance. “We must not let money cloud our original purpose, nor allow profit to lead us astray from our humanity. I believe the value of life lies not in breakthroughs, but in going with the flow of natural order. A doctor’s mission is to heal with heart, and to innovate with wisdom.” It is this very passion that has cemented his indispensable role in the world of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Photography: Karl Lam
Styling: Kyle Tang
Make up & hair: Constance Chan
Fashion Assistant: Tung Kam & Nicholas Chan
Photographer Assistant: John Yan & Leung Yui Wai
Wardrobe: Zegna
Location: Duddell’s
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