XN000022-1993-02-24 — Page 3

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1993

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TALKS ON AIDS TESTS FRANK AND CONSTRUCTIVE

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THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, SAID IN BEIJING TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT SHE WAS HEALTH AUTHORITY'S DECISION ΤΟ CEASE FREQUENT TRAVELLERS TO THE COUNTRY.

DELIGHTED BY THE CHINESE RANDOM HIV SCREENING OF

MRS WONG MADE THESE REMARKS AFTER A MEETING WITH THE CHINESE MINISTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND OTHER SENIOR CHINESE HEALTH OFFICIALS.

MRS WONG, WHO IS LEADING A HONG KONG DELEGATION TO THE CHINESE CAPITAL, SAID BOTH SIDES HAD A FRANK AND CONSTRUCTIVE EXCHANGE OF VIEWS DURING THE MEETING.

"I CONVEYED TO THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH, PROFESSOR CHEN MINCHANG, HONG KONG PEOPLE'S DEEP CONCERN OVER THE PRACTICE AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S POSITION ON THE MATTER, INCLUDING OUR MEASURES IN THE PREVENTION AND SURVEILLANCE OF AIDS AND OUR ATTITUDE TO THE SCREENING OF TRAVELLERS SHE SAID.

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"IN RESPONSE, THE CHINESE OFFICIALS CONFIRMED THAT HIV TESTING OF FREQUENT TRAVELLERS AT BORDER CHECKPOINTS HAD NOW CEASED.

"AT THE SAME TIME, THEY ALSO EXPLAINED TO US THEIR CONCERN OVER

THE RISK OF AIDS SPREADING IN CHINA.

IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, MRS WONG CONTINUED, BOTH SIDES SHARED THE VIEW THAT PUBLIC EDUCATION AND PREVENTION REMAINED THE BEST WEAPONS AGAINST AIDS.

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IN THIS CONTEXT, WE AGREE THERE SHOULD BE CLOSER OPERATION BETWEEN HONG KONG AND CHINA ON SURVEILLANCE AND PUBLIC EDUCATION ON AIDS," MRS WONG SAID.

SHE ADDED THAT ARRANGEMENTS WOULD BE MADE FOR THE HEALTH AUTHORITIES TO MEET TWICE A YEAR TO EXCHANGE EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STATISTICS ON AIDS AND TO FOSTER CO-OPERATION IN HEALTH EDUCATION.

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"THIS WILL HELP US, BOTH HONG KONG AND CHINA, TO BETTER COMBAT AND FACILITATE CLOSER CO-OPERATION IN THE PREVENTION OF THE DISEASE, MRS WONG SAID.

MEETING.

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THE DIRECTOR OF HEALTH, DR S # LEE, ALSO ATTENDED TODAY'S

/OTHER CHINESE