Press Releases

SHWF to attend WHO Western Pacific Regional Meeting

The Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, will attend the 57th session of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Committee for the Western Pacific on September 18 in Auckland, New Zealand.

He will also take the opportunity to hold bilateral meetings with other WHO members.

Before attending the Regional Meeting, Dr Chow will make a four-day visit to Wellington. He will call on his counterparts in the Ministry of Fisheries, including the Hon Jim Anderton, Minister of Fisheries and Associate Minister of Health, to learn more about the fisheries resources management regime in New Zealand and see how reference can be drawn in respect of promoting the sustainable development of the fisheries industry in 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 health care system, particularly, the recently reformed primary health care system, and its preparedness measures against influenza pandemic.

The New Zealand Food Safety Authority, the controlling authority for imports and exports of food and food-related products, will introduce to Dr Chow the country's food safety system.

Separately, Dr Chow will hold meetings with the Mrs Ruth Dyson, New Zealand's Minister for Senior Citizens, Disability Issues, Labour, Accident Compensation Corporation, and Associate Minister of Social Development and Employment (Child, Youth and Family), Mr Tony Ryall, Opposition spokesman on Health, and Ms Sue Kedgley, chairperson of the Select Committee on Health of the New Zealand Parliament.

Dr Chow will also visit a retirement village to see the community and care facilities there.

He will arrive in New Zealand tomorrow (September 12) and return to Hong Kong on September 19.



Ends/Monday, September 11, 2006
Issued at HKT 19:01

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