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Following is a question by the Hon Cyd Ho and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong, in the Legislative Council today (June 25):

Question:

In reply to a question at the Council meeting on 26 February this year, the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food pointed out that the health authorities in Hong Kong and Guangdong Province had already had a reciprocal notification mechanism. The notification mechanism therefore had already existed before the outbreak of atypical pneumonia in Hong Kong in March this year. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) of the types of information exchanged through this notification mechanism, and whether such information includes the names of diseases, transmission means, measures for infection prevention, the number of infected cases, etc.;

(b) of the mode of operation of the notification mechanism; in respect of the notification given in writing, the average time required for the health authorities which had been notified to receive the written notifications concerned; whether the notification given by way of telephone communication is confirmed in writing; if so, whether the Hong Kong health authorities are required to make written records of the relevant telephone communications and file such records before the written confirmation of such telephone communications has been received from the Guangdong health authorities; and provide the written confirmations and records of the telephone communications on infectious diseases between the health authorities in Hong Kong and Guangdong from November last year to May this year; and

(c) where the telephone communications do not have written confirmations or records, how people other than the officials engaged in the telephone communications can know the contents of the communications?

Reply :

(a) There is an established mechanism between Department of Health in Hong Kong and the Guangdong health authorities for the exchange of information on specific communicable diseases including cholera, viral hepatitis, malaria and HIV/AIDS to monitor the trend of diseases. Information to be exchanged includes the name of diseases, number of cases, number of deaths, age group and causative agents.

In April 2003, Hong Kong and Guangdong Province agreed to expand the notification mechanism by including Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and other infectious diseases like influenza, dengue fever and tuberculosis. Moreover, in addition to the above-mentioned statistical data, the two sides also agreed to exchange information on clinical treatment, epidemiological investigation, and progress on pathological study relating to SARS.

(b) Urgent exchange of information on communicable disease is often carried out over the telephone. The aim is to obtain preliminary information and to seek clarification on reports of communicable diseases for risk assessment and preventive action. Formal notifications, if required, are always in written form. Written notifications are sent via fax or e-mail to ensure rapidity of transmission. Meetings, visits and seminars are held where required to enhance collaboration in disease surveillance.

(c) Officers who receive information under the notification system, irrespective of whether the information is provided in writing or by telephone, will bring to the attention of relevant subject officers for follow up action as appropriate.

End/Wednesday, June 25, 2003

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