The Health, Welfare & Food Bureau will consult the Legislative Council in January on the establishment of a Centre for Health Protection which it hopes will come into operation by 2005.

Speaking on two radio talk shows this morning, the bureau's Permanent Secretary, Carrie Yau, said they will recruit a controller for the Centre in mid-2004.

The centre's primary task will be to handle matters on the control of communicable diseases such as SARS, putting in place emergency measures, strengthening laboratory tests and training staff. It would also study the threats of bio-chemical attacks.

The Centre would be under the Department of Health's purview and it will also boost co-operation and communication with concerned organisations, including the Hospital Authority.

Most similar centres in other countries, including the US and Canada, are put under the health departments or ministries, she noted. When major public health incidents happen, the Government has the responsibility to take up crisis management.

Refuting suggestions that the Hospital Authority may be too independent to work with, Mrs Yau said that it also had to be responsible to the Hong Kong people and the Government.