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Following are the remarks made by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong, at the end of the hearing today (March 27) of the Legislative Council Select Committee to inquire into the handling of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak by the Government and the Hospital Authority:
Mr Chairman,
The SARS epidemic was a very tragic and painful experience for all of us in Hong Kong, particularly for healthcare workers, patients and their families, and for those who have lost their loved ones. I remain deeply saddened.
My colleagues in the Department of Health, the Hospital Authority and the rest of the Government as well as those in the health community worked round the clock to fight this new and unknown disease. Those involved in the combat against SARS did all that was humanly possible, and sometimes even humanly remotely possible, to bring this new disease under control. I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to them and express my sincere gratitude and appreciation for their extraordinary service, attention to duty and true professionalism. In my view, they are highly deserving recognition.
I would also like to very sincerely thank the Legislative Council Select Committee for giving us the valuable opportunity to account to the public our policies and efforts in controlling the outbreak.
Our healthcare system has not been able to comprehensively halt the spread of the disease in the early stages. In this regard, I accept that responsibility fully as a Principal Official. I am accountable for any decision, professional and administrative, made by any of my subordinates.
The SARS experience has been a very humbling one. I have assimilated the lessons learnt and I am determined to improve the healthcare system to protect public health. The Government will do all we can to make sure that our system is robust and fully prepared to tackle new and emerging infectious diseases.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion)
Ends/Saturday, March 27, 2004
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