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Following is the transcript of the media session by the Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, today (April 28) at the Central Government Offices New Annexe Conference Hall before his departure for Bangkok:
We have made some headway in our battle against atypical pneumonia in the past few days. Thanks to the efforts of the whole community, the various government departments and particularly our medical and nursing staff, the number of new infection cases is stabilising and even showing a downward trend. There is reason to believe that the government's preventive measures are gradually bearing fruit. However, the overall situation still remains difficult. After all, this is a new virus. The situation is still not totally under our control.
In short, the situation remains fluid. We must not take the disease lightly. We must not let up on our efforts or let down our guard.
In particular, we must further improve our preventive measures at hospitals with a view to ensuring that the number of medical and nursing staff getting the infection is kept to a minimum. I believe that everyone in the community will share my feeling that we do not want to see any medical and nursing staff being infected. I know that the Hospital Authority has taken a series of management improvement measures. I have asked Dr Yeoh to be involved closely in the activities of the Hospital Authority.
Since the resistance of the elderly to this disease is rather weak, I would urge everyone to pay special attention to their elderly parents. I have also asked government departments to be more vigilant in ensuring preventive measures are taken in homes for the elderly.
Form 1 and Form 2 students are resuming classes today. I have asked the government departments, the school administrations, principals and teachers to be on maximum alert in order to ensure the safety of our students.
Looking at the way the disease has spread in other regions recently, it is clear that the disease poses a threat to the health and economy of the entire world. It is imperative for governments and health authorities around the world to fully co-operate if we are to succeed in combating this disease.
I have accepted ASEAN's invitation to take part in the Special ASEAN-China Leaders Meeting on Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome tomorrow in Bangkok. I will be part of the Chinese delegation led by Prime Minister Wen Jiabao. The meeting will discuss how this region can best work together in combating this disease.
Hong Kong is one of the worst-hit places, but in the course of fighting the disease, we have accumulated a lot of valuable experience. We have a good grasp and knowledge of prevention, treatment, in contact tracing and isolation, as well as handling largescale infections in local communities.
I shall share our experience and knowledge with the participants of the meeting. I also hope to be able to learn from the experience of other places in handling atypical pneumonia so that we ourselves can do better.
Reporter: Mr Tung, you say we're making headway. Two points: first of all, would you say the evidence indicates that we are turning the corner in the battle against this disease? Secondly, at ASEAN, would you be lobbying nations there not to take steps similar to those we have seen in Taiwan?
CE: I think insofar as the second point is concerned, the best assurance is to do a good job ourselves, demonstrate to the world we are on top of the situation. That is the most important thing. Over the last few weeks we have been working very, very hard, and I think the evidence shows that we are making good progress. I don't want to answer you as to whether we have turned the corner, but what I want to remind you and everyone else is, don't let down your guard. We've got to continue to be very vigilant.
With regard to your first point, as I said, I don't want to use those words. I think we need to continue to be very vigilant. Yes, we are making progress. A lot is still out there that we do not understand, we do not know and we have to be very vigilant and work very hard at it until we eventually become successful.
Reporter: Could you clarify what Dr Yeoh's new role is, because I thought his job already entailed supervising the Hospital Authority?
CE: He runs the whole public health system, of which the Hospital Authority is a part. Of course, the Hospital Authority has its board, has its Chief Executive who actually runs the authority on a day-to-day basis. What I have asked Dr Yeoh to do is to be personally more involved, to make sure the Hospital Authority is operating the way he wants it to operate.
Reporter: Doesn't that imply that somebody else hasn't been doing their job well, or that he hasn't been doing his job well?
CE: Well, I don't think it's so simple. We are in the midst of fighting an epidemic. We can always find better ways of doing things and this is what we are trying to do.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript)
End/Monday, April 28, 2003
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