Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Dr York Chow will attend the World Health Organisation Regional Committee for the Western Pacific's 57th session on September 18 in Auckland.

He will also hold bilateral meetings with other WHO members.

Before the regional meeting, Dr Chow will visit Wellington to call on Minister of Fisheries & Associate Minister of Health Jim Anderton to learn more about New Zealand's fisheries resources management regime and see how it may help Hong Kong. He will also meet with the Waitangi Fisheries Commission, a statutory organisation dedicated to future advancement of Maori interests in the marine environment.

Dr Chow will visit the Ministry of Health where he will be briefed on New Zealand's healthcare system, particularly the recently reformed primary healthcare system, and its preparedness measures against an influenza pandemic. The New Zealand Food Safety Authority will show Dr Chow the country's food safety system.

He will hold meetings with New Zealand's Minister for Senior Citizens, Disability Issues, Labour, Accident Compensation Corporation and Associate Minister of Social Development & Employment (Child, Youth & Family) Ruth Dyson, opposition spokesman on health Tony Ryall, and New Zealand Parliament Select Committee on Health chairman Sue Kedgley.

Dr Chow will also visit a retirement village to inspect its community and care facilities.