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Following is the transcript (English portion) of a media session by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, after officiating at the opening ceremony of "2005 Technology Drivers for Tomorrow ¡V Medical Diagnostics and Devices" International Technology Conference today (March 15):

Reporter: Do you think the measures (the comprehensive plan of action to reduce the risk of avian influenza outbreak) are too harsh?

Dr Chow: I think the measures we have announced yesterday are based on a very careful analysis of the risk of avian flu on Hong Kong as well as the investment of the farmers in the chicken farms. It is a very objective assessment as well as analysis of their monetary investment in their farms. As I said earlier, there are farms which have invested more than the others. Certainly, if they can produce evidence, we will be able to look at the individual farms and then have a second look at some of those levels. But as far as the general assessment is concerned, I think what we have offered is a very fair deal.

Reporter:...Would you actually consider issuing a travel warning?

Dr Chow: At the moment, although there is some evidence of human-to-human transmission, the mechanism of transfer is considered very weak. In other words, when one patient gets infected from another patient, the manifestation is usually milder and not as full-blown. But we have to monitor it (the situation) very carefully. As long as it is still maintained as a chicken infection, we are not as worried. But if it becomes human-to-human infection, we are much more concerned.

Reporter: Any advice to Hong Kong travellers?

Dr Chow: We don't advise people against going to Vietnam or any other places unless there is a WHO (World Health Organisation) warning. We are monitoring at the moment the situation in Vietnam which is considered a higher risk place. But most of the infections in Vietnam occurred in the rural areas as well as closer to the chicken farms and not in the urban areas. So, we are monitoring the situation very carefully. But I don't think we should be sort of over-reacting to what is being informed right now.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

Ends/Tuesday, March 15, 2005

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