Press Release

Symposium held to mark 10th anniversary of Centre for Health Protection

24 October 2014

In commemoration of its 10th anniversary, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (October 24) organised the CHP Symposium 2014 to provide a forum for public health practitioners and partners in the Asia-Pacific region to learn, share and exchange experience and views on disease prevention and control.

Officiating at the opening ceremony of the symposium, the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, said that on the advice of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) Expert Committee, the CHP was set up in 2004 with an aim of achieving effective prevention and control of disease in Hong Kong together with local and international stakeholders.

"Today, the CHP has earned its name as a key agency that protects the health of the public. In 2008, the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance came into effect to strengthen our legislative framework in the prevention and control of communicable disease and to make our legal requirements tally with those of the International Health Regulations of the World Health Organization (WHO)," Dr Ko said.

Dr Ko said that in recent years, Hong Kong has been constantly facing threats of newly emerging infectious diseases such as avian influenza A(H7N9), Middle East Respiratory Syndrome and Ebola Virus Disease. The CHP has played an important role in preventing the spread of these infections in Hong Kong.

"The CHP has been equally active in its involvement in laboratory method development, with its facilities being designated by the WHO as a reference laboratory for SARS, as well as a Regional Measles Reference Laboratory and a Supranational Reference Laboratory for Tuberculosis," he added.

In addition, Dr Ko remarked that similar to our neighbouring cities and countries, Hong Kong faces the need to combat threats from both communicable and non-communicable diseases. Close collaboration with counterparts and partners in the region is indispensable in the pursuit of good health protection for the local community.

The theme for the symposium is entitled "CHP ten years on: Challenges and Collaboration in Disease Prevention and Control in the Asia-Pacific Region", which covers various topics including climate change and human health, air pollution, antimicrobial resistance, vaccines, avian flu, childhood obesity, mental health, cancer and non-communicable disease control. The symposium is being held for two consecutive days, beginning today.

Also speaking at the opening ceremony, the Director of Health, Dr Constance Chan, remarked that during the past decade, the CHP has played a pivotal role in enhancing the capacity of Hong Kong's public health system to prepare for and respond to a growing list of public health challenges.

"At the dawn of the next decade, the CHP will continue to ride on the challenges posed by communicable and non-communicable diseases, through strengthening our disease surveillance systems and expanding our public health programmes.

"On the regional and international fronts, not only will we continue to foster ties with Mainland and Macau counterparts to strengthen co-ordination and promote sharing of experience, we will also work with public health institutions at regional and international levels, including the WHO and national health authorities, to build capacity and reinforce collaborations in disease prevention and control," Dr Chan said

Dr Chan expressed her gratitude to all the speakers for their informative and inspiring discussions and sharing of knowledge. She also thanked all attendees for their active participation in the symposium.

Also addressing the opening ceremony today was the Deputy Director-General of the Health Emergency Response Office of the National Health and Family Planning Commission, Dr Wang Wenjie. A congratulatory video message from the Regional Director of the Western Pacific Regional Office of the WHO, Dr Shin Young-soo, was also screened at the ceremony.

On the second day of the symposium tomorrow, the Controller of the CHP of the DH, Dr Leung Ting-hung, will give his concluding remarks on the importance of collaboration with the Mainland, regional and international health authorities in disease prevention and control.

During the two-day symposium, 10 sessions will be held in which more than 20 distinguished Mainland, overseas and local experts will speak on a wide range of subjects on public health, from the global to the microscopic and molecular levels. The symposium has drawn the attendance of about 700 overseas and local participants from academia and the health-care sector.