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The full report of the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) Expert Committee will be released simultaneously to the Hong Kong public when it is submitted to the Chief Executive on October 2, co-chairperson of the committee, Professor Sian Griffiths, said today (August 19) at a press conference.

Fully aware that various people had questioned the nature of the participation of the experts, Prof Griffiths said this was a concrete step to show the independence of the committee.

The other co-chairperson of the committee, Sir Cyril Chantler, also sternly stated: "It is a matter of integrity as far as we are concerned that the report we give will be our opinion and no one else. It is our judgment that will be presented and no one else."

He further stressed the committee's independence and said: ".... as far as we are concerned, our independence is not, cannot be and will not be compromised."

On the submission time of the report, Sir Cyril explained that it was not done earlier in end September because the experts were faced with a huge task and that they had also difficulties in getting time-off from their responsibilities in posts that they held at home to come to Hong Kong to deliver the report.

The full committee of the SARS Expert Committee was here in Hong Kong between August 13 and 19 to continue with its fact-finding mission following the first two rounds of meetings by the Hospital Management and Administration Group, and the Public Health Group in June and July respectively.

During the process, members met and discussed with a wide range of stakeholders and players in the incident, including legislators, hospital and public health authorities, Hospital Board members, local experts and academia, frontline health care workers and organisations as well as private practitioners, Amoy Gardens resident representatives, operators of old age homes, patient groups, media representatives and health care workers contracted SARS.

Members had also paid a visit to the Amoy Gardens in the July round of meeting to understand the environmental factors contributing to the horrendous outbreak in Amoy Gardens.

Prof Griffiths said they had listened to a wide range of views and the committee was in the process of formulating the report.

Outlining the brief structure of the report, Prof Griffiths said the committee would address the issue of 3Cs - collaboration, coordination and communication - for the academic community, professional community, the government and the community at large.

She said the committee would also point out the importance of the preparedness of the community and the health care sector in coping with an emergent infectious disease like SARS.

Other key areas to be addressed included system re-alignments and structural changes to upgrade the readiness for infectious disease outbreak control, improvements to the infection control measures and facilities, enhancement in surge capacity and information/data management, as well as surveillance.

Prof Griffiths also highlighted research and training as well as public health education, and clinical management and treatment protocol as key areas that helped shaped the final report.

The co-chairpersons, however, said it was premature for them to comment on the detailed findings before conclusions were reached. Nevertheless, Sir Cyril said they were clear with their responsibility to comment on matters, where relevant, of whether any individual had behaved to negligence, non-diligence or maladministration.

In view of the possibility that the epidemic would emerge at any time, Prof Griffiths called on the media to re-emphasise to the public the continual need to maintain personal hygiene even after the epidemic so that children and the community at large would get embedded in such culture.

The two chairpersons also expressed on behalf of the committee their utmost admiration for the people of Hong Kong and the health care workers who had handled the SARS epidemic, and their deepest sympathy for those who had suffered through the epidemic.

The SARS Expert Committee, comprising 11 international, mainland and local experts, was appointed by the Chief Executive on May 28, 2003 to carry out a comprehensive and expert study into the SARS outbreak earlier in Hong Kong, and to make recommendations on areas of improvement so that Hong Kong's public health system could be better prepared in the future for a possible return of SARS or other infectious diseases.

End/Tuesday, August 19, 2003

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( Floor / Cantonese / English )