XN000022-1992-09-08 — Page 3

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1992

"THE FIRST LEAF THAT HONG KONG CAN BORROW FROM CANADA'S GREEN PLAN IS THE IMPORTANCE THAT CANADA PAYS

TO DEVELOPING ENVIRONMENTAL UNDERSTANDING WITHIN ITS COMMUNITY.

"ANOTHER LESSON FOR HONG KONG IN CANADA'S GREEN PLAN IS THAT AS THE PACE OF DEVELOPMENT BRINGS CLOSER THE CONCEPT OF A GLOBAL VILLAGE, SO ALSO IT BRINGS CLOSER THE NEED TO THINK OF ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES NOT PURELY IN DOMESTIC TERMS, HE SAID.

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MORE CONTROL ON SPREAD OF DISEASES NEEDED * * * * *

THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, DR S H LEE, SAID MUCH HAD TO BE DONE IN CONTROLLING THE SPREAD OF DISEASES AMONG VARIOUS COUNTRIES.

HE SAID THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION (WHO) HAD AN IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY IN THIS REGARD AND IN THE RAPID DISSEMINATION OF

· INFORMATION.

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DR LEE WAS

SPEAKING AT THE 43RD SESSION OF WHO'S REGIONAL COMMITTEE FOR THE WESTERN PACIFIC WHICH OPENED IN HONG KONG TODAY (TUESDAY).

AS CHAIRMAN OF THE CURRENT SESSION, DR LEE SAID HONG KONG WAS A VERY BUSY CROSSROAD OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND TRAVEL.

THIS BRINGS WITH IT THE HEALTH RISKS THAT ACCOMPANY PEOPLE AND GOODS AS THEY MOVE AROUND THE WORLD, MAKING DISEASE SURVEILLANCE VERY DIFFICULT.

OF

"IN THE RECENT PAST WE HAVE SEEN SOME GOOD EXAMPLES IN THE FORM 'BORDER MEETINGS' IN PROGRAMME AREAS SUCH AS DRUG ABUSE, AIDS AND OTHER COMMUNICABLE DISEASES, HE SAID.

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"SUCH MEETINGS HAVE GREATLY HELPED IN SETTING UP SYSTEMS TO MONITOR THE TRANSBOUNDARY MOVEMENT OF INFECTIONS.

"I AM SURE THERE ARE MANY OTHER WAYS IN WHICH WHO IS ENABLING COUNTRIES TO CO-OPERATE WITH EACH OTHER IN CONTROLLING THE SPREAD OF DISEASES, AND THAT THERE IS MUCH MORE TO BE DONE IN THIS AREA.

DR

"

LEE POINTED OUT THAT WHO'S COLLABORATIVE PROGRAMMES IN WESTERN PACIFIC OVER THE YEARS HAD BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN ADDRESSING MAJOR HEALTH ISSUES OF THE REGION.

THE

THE

CITING EXAMPLES, HE SAID CONTROL OF THE SIX TARGET DISEASES WAS BECOMING POSSIBLE; THE ELIMINATION OF LEPROSY WAS BECOMING A REALITY; AND MORTALITY FROM DIARRHOEAL DISEASES WAS ALSO BEING RAPIDLY REDUCED.

WHICH

HOWEVER, HE STRESSED THE NEED FOR NEW INITIATIVES TO REDUCE THE NEGATIVE IMPACT ON HEALTH OF URBANISATION AND INDUSTRIALISATION WERE RELATED MAINLY TO ENVIRONMENT AND LIFESTYLE.

/IN ADDITION