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The Under Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Gabriel Leung, has underlined the importance of vigilance and called for unfailing support and active participation in the challenging and meaningful effort against AIDS.
Addressing the opening ceremony of the 20th anniversary seminar cum reunion of the Hong Kong Advisory Council on AIDS (ACA) today (June 18), Professor Leung said the rise in HIV infections among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Hong Kong and the neighbouring region over the past few years had highlighted the importance of vigilance in preventing AIDS.
The Red Ribbon Centre of the Department of Health has responded by actively working with the local MSM community and forming an HIV prevention working group targeting MSM.
Professor Leung said that for over 20 years, HIV/AIDS had emerged as one of the most devastating public health disasters confronting mankind. However, he noted that unlike many parts of the world, HIV prevalence in Hong Kong had been maintained at a relatively low level for a long time.
Professor Leung commended the ACA for making valuable recommendations on AIDS policy and bringing together local communities to mount a coordinated response to the AIDS challenge. The ACA, established in 1990, comprises members from all sectors of the community including community leaders, professionals and government representatives.
Also at the seminar, the Chairman of the ACA, Professor Chen Char-nie, gave the assurance that the ACA would continue to keep under review local and international trends and developments relating to HIV infection and AIDS, and to advise the government of the response.
The Director of Health cum Vice-Chairman of the ACA, Dr PY Lam; three former Chairmen of the ACA, Professor S H Lee, Dr Conrad Lam and Dr Homer Tso; and Controller of the Centre for Health Protection, Dr Thomas Tsang, were among today's officiating guests.
Ends/Friday, June 18, 2010
Issued at HKT 18:17
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