Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Dr York Chow will visit Beijing, Kunming, Yunnan and Ottawa, Canada, October 19 to 27 for meetings.

In Beijing he will sign a co-operation arrangement with the State General Administration for Quality Supervision, Inspection & Quarantine on October 20. The agreement will enhance co-operation on food safety, inspection and quarantine.

Dr Chow will then depart for Kunming, leading a Hong Kong delegation to the 4th Joint Meeting of Senior Health Officials of the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macau.

In Canada he will attend an international meeting of Ministers of Health on October 24 and 25. It will focus on enhancing global collaboration and co-ordination in advance of a possible influenza pandemic. He will take part in the meeting as part of the Chinese delegation.