The initial framework for the Centre for Health Protection is now being mapped out.

Deputy Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Thomas Yiu told legislators today that an advisory committee comprising academics and medical professionals has been launched to advise on the centre's set-up.

The committee will hold its first meeting this month and discuss the centre's proposed framework.

The Department of Health has started recruiting overseas epidemiologists and virologists to help design training programmes and provide field epidemiology and microbiology instruction.

Reporting on the progress of implementation of the SARS Expert Committee Report, Mr Yiu said a task force is looking at the organisational structure and the relationship between his bureau and its constituent departments with a view to improving co-ordination and communication.

An overall Government emergency response mechanism as outlined in the Checklist of Measures to Combat SARS has been put in place, providing a clear command structure for making strategic decisions and setting out the roles and responsibilities for various emergency situations.

The Hospital Authority and the Department of Health have implemented subsector contingency plans. They collaborated in two SARS drills last month and will conduct further exercises.

All private hospitals have been requested to submit their SARS contingency plans to the department, which will form part of the overall emergency response mechanism.

Noting public concern over the ability of the public health system in dealing with a possible return of SARS, Mr Yiu assured legislators that public hospitals' capacity and preparedness has been greatly enhanced.

The majority of the 900 isolation beds have been completed and the remaining 600 will be finished in batches between November and January.

Funding approval will be sought from the Legislative Council on the construction of three infectious-disease blocks in three major public acute hospitals.