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The Director of Health, Dr Constance Chan, today (January 9) expressed her profound sadness at the passing of Professor Lee Shiu-hung, the former Director of Health, and extended her deepest condolences to his family on behalf of colleagues of the Department of Health.
"Professor Lee was a veteran in the public health field. He devoted over half a century to promoting and safeguarding the health of the public in Hong Kong. He was a caring leader and teacher and deeply respected by colleagues in the Department. His efforts and contribution to the Department are well recognised," Dr Chan said.
Professor Lee joined the then Medical and Health Department of the Hong Kong Government and pursued a career in public health as early as 1960. He was appointed as the founding Director of Health upon the establishment of the Department of Health in April 1989 and led the Department till 1994. During his tenure as the Government's health advisor in Hong Kong, Professor Lee made a substantial contribution in bringing the concepts of public health and primary health care into the forefront of Hong Kong's health services. He also established an infrastructure for the control of communicable diseases in Hong Kong.
After his retirement from the Civil Service in June 1994, Professor Lee continued his dedication to promoting the development of public health in different arenas. He joined the Chinese University of Hong Kong and established the School of Public Health, in which he served as the founding Director. Moreover, he was a strong advocate for tobacco control and one of the main driving forces behind various health promotional activities, including healthy school and healthy city projects.
Professor Lee was also active in promoting international collaboration on health and disease prevention. He received numerous honours and awards for his contributions to public health, including a World Health Organization Medal from the Western Pacific Regional Office in 1988, and awards from the Asia Pacific Association for the Control of Tobacco in 2007 and the Alliance on Healthy Cities in 2010.
Professor Lee was the founding President of the Hong Kong College of Community Medicine. Since 2003 he was also President of the World Association of Chinese Public Health Professionals.
He was appointed as a Justice of the Peace in 1996 and was awarded the Silver Bauhinia Star in 2000.
Ends/Thursday, January 9, 2014
Issued at HKT 12:44
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