Infection fighter: Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong says Hong Kong has strengthened its preparedness for a potential outbreak and maintains close and effective surveillance for infectious diseases.

After rebuilding its public health defence system and enhancing its capacity to manage disease outbreaks, Hong Kong is well equipped to combat infectious diseases swiftly and rigorously, Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong says.

We have strengthened our preparedness for a potential outbreak and maintain close and effective surveillance for infectious diseases, he said.

"Until now, Hong Kong has remained SARS-free because we have remarkably and in a timely manner rebuilt our public health systems of infectious disease surveillance and control."

Dr Yeoh made the remarks when addressing the Report on HK's Anti-SARS Measures & Inauguration Ceremony of the Scientific Advisory Structure of the Centre for Health Protection, Department of Health today.

Centre for Health Protection pools expertise

"The centre will harness and consolidate professional knowledge and expertise in combating infectious diseases, making Hong Kong better placed in tackling health threats and responding to outbreaks," he said.

"To secure a firm footing for the centre to work with its partners, the Director of Health has invited experts in different fields to serve on its Board of Scientific Advisers and seven Scientific Committees. This is a major step to pool knowledge, expertise and intelligence locally and internationally.

"The Board of Scientific Advisers and Scientific Committees will no doubt provide a milieu conducive to the deliberation and exchange of views on issues relating to communicable diseases of public health importance," Dr Yeoh added.

Key government departments, agencies and academic institutions reported on their strategies and initiatives in better preparing to prevent and control SARS.

The WHO Western Pacific Regional Office's Regional Adviser in Communicable Disease Surveillance & Response, Dr Hitoshi Oshitani, provided a regional perspective of communicable diseases and control measures.

HK's SARS prevention works 'impressive'

Dr Oshitani said he was impressed with the amount of work Hong Kong had done just one year after SARS, and he was sure Hong Kong was much better prepared for SARS and other emerging diseases.

He was impressed with the strong commitment the Government had demonstrated in leading the preventive work against SARS; the high level of co-ordination among different departments and sectors, as was evident in the actions reported today; and community involvement in implementing the measures.

Dr Oshitani also praised Hong Kong for having done an excellent job during the SARS outbreak last year even though there was no knowledge of the disease or what caused the infection at that time.

"It is easy to criticise any actions retrospectively. Hong Kong did quite a good job in implementing all necessary measures during the outbreak," he said.

Also attending today's event were:

* Permanent Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Carrie Yau;

* Director of Health Dr Lam Ping-yan;

* CHP Controller Dr Leung Pak-yin;

* Hospital Authority Chairman Dr Leong Che-hung;

* Hospital Authority Chief Executive Dr William Ho; and

* senior Government officials and researchers from HK University and the Chinese University.