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Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr John C Tsang, at the prize presentation ceremony of the Love Love Run 2015 at Pak Shek Kok Promenade this morning (November 22):
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good morning.
It's my great pleasure to be here today for the Love Love Run.
I believe all of us here are enjoying the refreshing autumn air and the fantastic view of the Tolo Harbour. But we are here, also, for more important reasons, which is our concern for AIDS patients.
Government has made much effort to promote public awareness and understanding about AIDS, and AIDS-related deaths have dropped dramatically due to the introduction of cocktail therapy in the 1990s. However, the number of newly reported HIV infections has increased every year in Hong Kong since the first case was recorded here more than 30 years ago.
It is even more distressing to learn that discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS still exist in our community, and that this wrong perception might have dissuaded some patients from getting tested and receiving life-giving treatment.
In this regard, I wish to thank the AIDS Concern charity and the business community for organising this meaningful "Love Love Run" event; as well as all of you here joining the race today, for making the difference in the fight against AIDS, and for joining hands to build a more inclusive and caring Hong Kong, for the benefit of patients with HIV/AIDS, for everyone, for you and me.
Thank you, have a good day.
Ends/Sunday, November 22, 2015
Issued at HKT 10:48
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