For Embryo Researchers

Research that Requires a Licence

Under section 2(1) of the Human Reproductive Technology Ordinance (Cap. 561), embryo research:

1. means any research involving the creation, use or manipulation of an embryo, whether or not the embryo is to be implanted into the body of a woman;
2. includes a procedure specified by the Secretary for Health in a Gazette notice to be embryo research; but
3. excludes a procedure specified by the Secretary for Health in a Gazette notice not to be embryo research.

Under normal circumstances, the Council will not grant a licence unless the project is considered necessary or desirable for the furtherance of one of more of the following purposes:

1. to promote advances in the treatment of infertility;
2. to increase knowledge about the causes or treatment of congenital disease;
3. to increase knowledge about the causes or treatment of miscarriages;
4. to develop more effective techniques of contraception;
5. to develop methods for detecting the presence of gene or chromosome abnormalities in embryos before implantation;
6. to increase knowledge about the development of embryos;
7. to increase knowledge about serious disease; and
8. to enable such knowledge to be applied in the development of treatments to combat serious disease.

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