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Medical experts in Hong Kong and Ireland had exchanged views on the SARS situation in Hong Kong at a video conference that finished shortly after midnight.
The Hong Kong team, led by Director of Health Dr Margaret Chan, detailed the various measures Hong Kong had taken to contain the transmission of SARS.
Secretary for Home Affairs, Dr Patrick Ho, who invited the Irish Expert Group to have this video conference, said the Hong Kong team had strongly expressed the desire of the Hong Kong Special Olympics athletes to participate in the Special Olympics World Summer Games to be held in Dublin next month.
The Irish authorities announced their decision last week to request the Hong Kong delegation not to attend the games.
At the video conference, which began before 11.30 pm on Wednesday, the Hong Kong team, comprising Professor Sydney Chung, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of the Chinese University who obtained his medical qualification in Ireland, Dr Thomas Tsang of the Department of Health; Dr Lorette Yam of the Hospital Authority, Sports Development Board's medical advisor Dr John Wong, and Fay Ho of the Hong Kong Special Olympics, also answered specific question raised by the Irish Expert Group, led by its chairman Dr Jim Kiely.
Dr Ho believed that the video conference enabled the Irish Expert Group to have a clearer understanding of the situation in Hong Kong and of the various precautionary measures that the Hong Kong delegation would take before departure.
He hoped that the Irish authorities would re-visit their decision.
End/Thursday, May 22, 2003
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