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China, Hong Kong Agree on Response Mechanism to Health Emergencies

Posted on: Friday, 21 October 2005, 09:00 CDT

Text of press release posted on the HKSAR website headlined: "Cooperation agreement on response mechanism for public health emergencies signed" carried by Hong Kong government website on 21 October

The secretary for health, welfare and food, Dr York Chow, today (October 21) signed a "Cooperation Agreement on Response Mechanism for Public Health Emergencies" in Kunming, Yunnan Province, with the Vice-Minister of the Mainland's Ministry of Health, Professor Huang Jiefu and the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of Macao, Dr Chui Sai-on.

At the two-day (today and tomorrow) Fourth Joint Meeting of Senior Health Officials of the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macau held in Kunming, the three places agreed on the notification and the coordination of emergency mechanism concerning emerging any major infectious disease epidemic which might caused serious disruptions to society. The three places would also enhance collaboration in training and scientific research.

Dr Chow said cooperation between the Mainland and Hong Kong had been good. For example, the Ministry of Health allowed Hong Kong experts to take part in the investigation of the outbreak of streptococcus suis infection in Sichuan Province this summer. Working on this model, Dr Chow said the Hong Kong health authorities hoped to further enhance the cooperation with the Mainland and Macao.

The signing of agreement by the three sides was a big leap forward on this direction, he added.

"With rapid globalization, public health incidents such as outbreak of infectious disease could spread widely and affect many places. Whether the three places can effectively handle such public health crisis will very much hinge on our close collaboration," he said.

According to the agreement, in case of serious public health emergencies in the Mainland, Macao or Hong Kong, a mutual coordination and support mechanism in terms of manpower, techniques and resources would be in place. The three places could also send experts to take part in dealing with such crisis upon mutual agreement. If cross-boundary public health emergencies occur among the three places or between any two, the concerned places would immediately notify the other parties, activate the emergency mechanism, form a joint public health emergency response team to handle the crisis.

In addition, in case of international major public health incidents, the three sides could also form and field an emergency rescue team to assist upon mutual agreement.

Source: BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific

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