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Following is the speech by the Secretary for Health and Welfare, Dr E K Yeoh, at the Opening Ceremony of the Postgraduate Education Centre of the Faculty of Medicine of the Chinese University of Hong Kong today (June 2):

Professor Arthur Li, Mr Alan Li, Dr Omi, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is indeed my great pleasure to be amongst you this morning at the Opening Ceremony of the Postgraduate Education Centre of the Faculty of Medicine of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, which marks yet another milestone in the development of the University. Apart from first-class educational and training facilities, this magnificent building also houses the School of Public Health, the first purposely designed academic institution in public health in Hong Kong.

The opening of the School of Public Health comes at a most opportune time. While our health care system has served us well for many years, it is facing the problems of an aging population and increasing prevalence of chronic diseases. Our elderly population will double in 30 years' time and, by 2029, it will rise to almost 20 per cent of the total population, putting much pressure on the economic-active population of the community. Furthermore, an aging population implies that the disease profile would evolve to become more chronic-illness-dominant. It is important that our health care system is able to meet these changing challenges. However, assessing a population's health needs is not a straightforward process.

Public health medicine is a discipline that builds on the principles and applications of epidemiology to study and identify the main problems experienced by a population and by the main groups within them. With the knowledge of health needs as the foundation, it brings together the strategies for intervention to promote health and prevent disease and the main themes underlying health policy formulation.

I am sure that, through its comprehensive programmes, the School of Public Health will be a good training ground for much-needed specialists in public health medicine, as well as facilitating the development of a community-based health care model and, ultimately, contributing to an overall improvement in the health of the Hong Kong population.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and other donors for their generous donations towards the construction of this building. I would also like to congratulate all members of the Faculty of Medicine for their outstanding achievements and contributions to medical education and research. The opening of the Postgraduate Education Centre, I am sure, would further boost their services to the community in the new millennium.

Thank you.

END/Saturday, June 2, 2001

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