XN000022-1991-12-20 — Page 13

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1991

HK TO HOST WHO REGIONAL COMMITTEE MEETING

* * *

HONG KONG IS TO HOST, FOR THE FIRST TIME AND UNDER ITS OWN NAME, THE 43RD SESSION OF THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION REGIONAL COMMITTEE FOR THE WESTERN PACIFIC IN SEPTEMBER NEXT YEAR.

(WHO)

AT A CEREMONY HELD THIS (FRIDAY) MORNING, AN AGREEMENT FOR HONG KONG TO PLAY HOST TO THE SESSION WAS SIGNED BY THE DIRECTOR OF HEALTH, DR S.H. LEE AND THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF THE WHO REGIONAL COMMITTEE FOR THE WESTERN PACIFIC, DR S.T. HAN ON BEHALF OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND THE WHO RESPECTIVELY.

IN HIS OPENING

REMARKS, DR LEE SAID THE WHO WAS A UNITED NATIONS AGENCY RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL HEALTH MATTERS AFFECTING THE WORLD'S POPULATION,

"WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SIX REGIONAL OFFICES, EACH REGIONAL COMMITTEE WILL HOLD ITS ANNUAL SESSION, TO BE ATTENDED BY MINISTERS OF HEALTH AND DIGNITARIES IN THE HEALTH FIELD FROM THE MEMBER STATES, TO DISCUSS HEALTH ISSUES IN THAT REGION AND REVIEW REGIONAL POLICIES, PROGRAMMES AND BUDGET ALLOCATIONS," DR LEE SAID.

WHO

"HONG KONG HAS BEEN ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING IN THE ACTIVITIES AND WE HAVE AS MUCH TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE INTERNATIONAL HEALTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME AS WE ARE BENEFITTED FROM IT.

NOTING THAT HONG KONG IS NOW IN THE BRA OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH REFORMS, DR LEE SAID THERE WOULD BE PLENTY CHANCES ΤΟ SHARE THE TERRITORY'S EXPERIENCE IN TACKLING VARIOUS HEALTH ISSUES WHICH ARE ALSO COMMON TO OTHER COUNTRIES OR AREAS.

OF

"WE ARE ALSO READY TO SHOW THE PROGRESS OF IMPLEMENTATION OUR PRIMARY HEALTH CARE PROGRAMME TO ACHIEVE THE WHO'S OBJECTIVE OF HEALTH FOR ALL IN THE YEARS AHEAD,

T HE ADDED.

ALSO SPEAKING ON THE SAME OCCASION, DR HAN NOTED THAT HONG KONG HAD ALWAYS PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC REGION OF WHO AND TODAY'S CEREMONY WAS A FITTING EXPRESSION OF WELL OVER 40 YEARS OF CLOSE COLLABORATION IN HEALTH DEVELOPMENT.

"OUR MEMBER STATES WARMLY WELCOME THIS INVITATION FROM GOVERNMENT THAT HAS GIVEN SUCH CONSTANT SUPPORT AND OUR HEALTH-FOR-ALL AND PRIMARY HEALTH CARE INITIATIVE REGION, HE ADDED.

H

ENCOURAGEMENT TO THROUGHOUT THE

IN ADDITION, DR HAN THANKED DR LEE FOR HIS LONG-STANDING PERSONAL COMMITMENT AND CONTRIBUTION TO HEALTH PROGRAMMES IN THE REGION.

WILL

THE FIVE-DAY SESSION (FROM SEPTEMBER 7 ΤΟ 11 NEXT YEAR) DISCUSS HEALTH ISSUES IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC REGION.

/IT WILL