Secretary for Health resigns over SARS report

The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, today (July 7) accepted the resignation of the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr E K Yeoh.

Dr Yeoh's resignation came in the wake of the report of the Legislative Council Select Committee inquiry into the handling of the SARS outbreak last year. The report included criticism of officials and staff of the government and the Hospital Authority.

Mr Tung praised Dr Yeoh's professional and dedicated service to the public, and his altruism and courage in the fight against SARS.

He said Dr Yeoh offered his resignation "to give an expression to the spirit of accountability".

Mr Tung said he considered the resignation very carefully before accepting it, and that both he and other senior officials were saddened by Dr Yeoh's departure.

To ensure that a suitable successor is found, Dr Yeoh has agreed to continue in the post for up to three months.

"I would like to thank Dr Yeoh for his work during the past few years. He is a very dedicated person and under great pressure has served the public selflessly and professionally," Mr Tung said.

He said the hard work of Dr Yeoh and his team helped contain the SARS outbreak.

"He has done his job competently. Dr Yeoh came under tremendous pressure from the public in the first half of this year. He insisted on discharging his responsibilities and working tirelessly to improve our public health system. Substantial progress has been made and most of the recommendations of the SARS Expert Committee have been implemented, and we have successfully guarded against the attack of SARS and avian flu in the first half of this year," Mr Tung said.

The Chief Executive said the expert committee had found that overall, Hong Kong handled the epidemic well. In hindsight, there was much room for improvement in the health system, but the committee had not deemed any individual to be culpable of negligence, lack of diligence or maladministration.

"Even though there are shortcomings, there is no evidence to suggest that any officials were derelict in their duties, negligent or lacked integrity in the battle against this new and unknown disease," Mr Tung said.

Dr Yeoh thanked Mr Tung for his leadership and support, and said: "It has been a privilege to have had this opportunity to serve the people of Hong Kong."

Ends/Wednesday, July 7, 2004