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Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr John C. Tsang at the opening ceremony of Fifth Congress of Asian Society of Cardiovascular Imaging this morning (June 18):
Dr Leong [Lilian], Professor Lim [Tae-Hwan], Dr Chiang [Chung-Seung], Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good morning.
It is my great pleasure to join you at the opening ceremony of the Fifth Congress of the Asian Society of Cardiovascular Imaging.
On behalf of the Hong Kong Government, a warm welcome to you all, and especially to our friends from overseas.
I am grateful to Dr Leong for inviting me here to speak to so many distinguished cardiologists–and without having to call you all ahead of time to make an appointment.
I am not a medical person, but I do have some experience of your profession–mostly from the receiving end. About two years ago, I had an emergency balloon angioplasty surgery. Thanks to the brilliant doctors, the incident seemed like ancient history, and I hardly recall there had been a problem.
I, like so many others, have a special admiration for the work that you do.
Cardiovascular disease is one of the world's major killers. It claims over 17 million lives every year. In Hong Kong, cardiovascular and related diseases take up the largest proportion of our public hospitals' resources. Heart disease, in particular, is ranked the No.2 killer, after cancer.
This is not unique to our city. Economies around the world are already facing increasing rates of cardiovascular and related diseases. A rapidly ageing population, changes in dietary habits and fast-paced living are among the main factors behind this troubling trend.
This also imposes a significant burden on our healthcare systems, and in the long run, society as a whole.
Advances in engineering and computer science have brought about remarkable developments in this highly specialised field. The quantity and quality of medical imaging technology of the cardiovascular system has increased significantly. This is crucial for early identification and diagnosis of potential problems.
In recent decades, imaging technology has evolved from the very basic chest X-rays to a wide spectrum of modalities. The Computed Tomography and Magnet Resonance Imaging technology is a good example. It is at the forefront of recent advances in non-invasive cardiac imaging. It is also one of the focuses of this year's Congress.
An effective cardiac imaging service depends not only on the advancement in hardware, but also the software. At the same time, highly-skilled professionals are indispensable in treating patients.
This Congress brings together experts in all areas of cardiovascular imaging. By sharing your knowledge and experiences you can all keep abreast of the latest technologies and future trends.
I commend the Asian Society of Cardiovascular Imaging in promoting international collaboration through education, research and training, since its establishment in 2006.
It is a great honour for our city to stage this Congress. Thank you all for keeping your appointment with this year's Congress. No doubt your participation will help make it an eye-opening and mind-expanding experience for everyone involved. I also encourage our guests to take some time to explore Hong Kong, and enjoy the cultural diversity of Asia's world city.
Keep up the good work. Our lives depend on it. Thank you.
Ends/Saturday, June 18, 2011
Issued at HKT 11:27
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