Press release - May 3, 2003

The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, visited various places in Hong Kong this morning (May 3) to understand how measures were working on different fronts to combat atypical pneumonia, including preventive measures in the community, medical care and border quarantine.

Accompanied by the HKSAR Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr E K Yeoh and the HKSAR Director of Social Welfare, Mrs Carrie Lam, he visited the TWGH Wong Cho Tong Care and Attention Home in Ho Man Tin. He was satisfied with the precautions taken there to safeguard the health of the elderly.

"I am very concerned about the preventive work among the elderly. Their chances of infection may be higher because of their low body resistance. We must take extra care at elderly homes," he said.

Mr Tung then visited the HKSAR Hospital Authority Headquarters where he met the Chief Executive of the HKSAR Hospital Authority, Dr William Ho, other senior management members and medical experts from the University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

He was pleased to see Dr Ho back to work after recovering from the disease. He encouraged all the staff of the HKSAR Hospital Authority and medical experts from the two universities to keep up with their efforts to win the battle against the disease.

Mr Tung moved on to the Lo Wu immigration control point to see how temperature checks for travellers were carried out.

So far 35 infrared temperature scanners have been set up at Lo Wu to check the temperature of all inbound travellers.

Accompanied by the HKSAR Director of Immigration, Mr T K Lai, Mr Tung toured round the arrival hall to inspect the screening of travellers over the immigration counters. He also chatted with Civil Aid Service staff to learn how they help arriving travellers take their temperature.

He noted the range of measures taken by the HKSAR Immigration Department to provide a safe and hygienic environment for both its staff and travellers.

"Our next important step ahead is to bring down the number of new cases of infection to single digit. We do not wish to see any of our frontline medical and nursing staff get infected," he added.

"All the measures we are taking must be rigorous and up to the highest standard in order to further bring down the number of new cases of infection," he said.
Earlier in the morning, Mr Tung was briefed by the HKSAR Permanent Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Mrs Carrie Yau, on the operation of a multi-disciplinary response team in various areas, including contact-tracing, cleansing and disinfection measures in the community.

End/Saturday, May 3, 2003

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For updated information and latest news on respiratory tract infections, please visit the special home page on the subject at www.info.gov.hk/info/infection-e.htm, and the HKSAR Department of Health website at www.info.gov.hk/dh/ap.htm as well as the e-bulletin at www.news.gov.hk/en/index.shtml.