Replies to LegCo questions

LCQ15: Establishing organisation similar to US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Following is a question by the Hon Emily Lau and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong, in the Legislative Council today (June 11):

Question :

On the 5th of last month, the Chief Executive stated that "the Government has begun to study establishing an organisation similar to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States to fight and prevent infectious diseases". In this connection, will the Executive Authorities inform this Council:

(a) of the proposed location of the office of the organisation, as well as its estimated establishment costs and annual operation costs; and

(b) whether, in conducting research work on the control and prevention of infectious diseases, the organisation will, apart from the mainstream western therapies, explore other treatment options (such as alternative therapies, Chinese therapies and medication, naturopathy and homeopathy); if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?


Reply :

(a) We are studying options for setting up an organisation similar to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States. The Experts Committee to review the management and control of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome outbreak in Hong Kong will also cover this in its deliberations. We will work out the details of the location and the estimated costs for setting up and operating the proposed organisation after the structure and mode of operation of the organisation have been finalised.

(b) The proposed organisation's functions may include, among others, applied research and development to enable prompt response to emerging infection. The organisation will also work closely with tertiary institutions and commission applied research projects which have immediate field application for control and prevention of communicable diseases, including research on effective modalities of prevention using therapies from authenticated sources. At this stage we have no preconceived idea on the nature and scope of the research studies, which will be decided in due course in the light of prevailing circumstances and international experiences.

End/Wednesday, June 11, 2003
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