Hong Kong and Shenzhen health quarantine authorities have held a joint exercise to test their emergency response capabilities in the event of suspected human cases of avian flu at Shenzhen Bay Port.

Director of Health Dr PY Lam said the flow of travellers between Hong Kong and Shenzhen has been increasing and the exercise helps to strengthen the two cities' communication and collaboration in public health crises. 

Flu fight: Hong Kong and Shenzhen health quarantine authorities test their response to an infectious disease outbreak.

The exercise centred on scenarios in which passengers entering the port from Hong Kong or Shenzhen were found to have avian flu symptoms, including fever.

On the Hong Kong side, the Department of Health took the passenger to hospital for treatment and conducted thorough disinfection of the car he arrived in. The Shenzhen health quarantine authority activated its emergency response system.

A total of 80 people from the two cities' relevant government departments joined in the exercise, including those from the Immigration, Customs & Excise, Police and Fire Services Departments, and Radio Television Hong Kong.