The proposed Centre for Health Protection will facilitate real-time surveillance and immediate control of communicable diseases, as well as strengthen ties between Hong Kong and the Mainland on information exchange and professional training.

This was the message from Director of Health Dr Lam Ping-yan at the Legislative Council Health Services Panel this morning.

Dr Lam said the centre will be set up within the Government and its existing public health infrastructure as many of its core functions cannot be performed effectively by non-government agencies.

This is also in line with most of the similar organisations overseas, which are government agencies or government-owned entities, he added.

According to the proposed schedule, the centre will first offer surveillance and epidemiology as well as infection-control services after a new chief health protection controller, to be deployed from the department, is appointed by May.

Other services, such as public health, laboratory, programme management and professional development, as well as emergency response and information, will be in place in 2005.

Dr Lam said a review of the centre's function and operation will be conducted.

While the establishment of the centre will involve the reorganisation of the department, Dr Lam pledged that existing services the department provides will not be affected.