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The health and quarantine authorities of Hong Kong and Shenzhen today (January 15) signed an agreement to further enhance their co-operation on quarantine measures at the boundary control points to reduce the risk of communicable diseases.
The agreement was signed by the Director of Health, Dr P Y Lam, and the Director-General of Shenzhen Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Mr Liu Sheng-li.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Dr Lam said that the increase in the number of travellers between Hong Kong and Shenzhen meant that the risk of the spread of communicable diseases across the boundary was also on the rise and a stronger tie between the quarantine departments of the two places was needed.
"The agreement indicates the health and quarantine authorities of the two places go from strength to strength in fostering closer partnerships in the interest of public health.
"The introduction of the new health declaration form which allows travellers to fill in just one declaration form for inspection by the port health staff of the two places, instead of two different forms used previously, will certainly be a user-friendly initiative," Dr Lam said.
Mr Liu said the ever emerging threats of communicable diseases called for a quick response and it was essential that the two parties forged close working relationships.
"The agreement would provide a firm foundation from which both parties could build a fruitful and mutually beneficial relationship, based on co-operation and the sharing of knowledge and information," Mr Liu said.
In the agreement, both parties agreed to:
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* Improve the notification mechanism on communicable diseases, and inform each other in case of major outbreaks;
* Enhance the communication network of the port health staff of the two places, which would be activated when problems involving the two parties arise at the border control points;
* Introduce a new health declaration form for inspection by both port health agencies ("one-card two-declaration" health declaration system) for travellers to quicken the quarantine procedure;
* Furnish the mechanism on the conveyance of patients to their place of abode for medical treatment;
* Co-operate in vector surveillance and related screening and studies;
* Strengthen communication and co-operation on the works of vector surveillance at Shenzhen Bay Port.
Ends/Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Issued at HKT 18:59
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