XN000022-1994-11-02 — Page 15

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1994

IN THIS RESPECT, MR PRESIDENT, I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY MEDICINE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG, HAS RECENTLY PUBLISHED A "PUBLIC HEALTH REPORT". THIS NEW INITIATIVE AIMS TO ANALYSE THE MAJOR HEALTH PROBLEMS AFFECTING OUR COMMUNITY WHICH ARE PREVENTABLE. IT ATTEMPTS TO PROVIDE SOME POINTERS TO THE DIRECTION IN WHICH WE SHOULD NOW MOVE, TO ENSURE THAT OUR FUTURE ASSESSMENTS OF THE TERRITORY'S STATE OF HEALTH ARE RELEVANT, THAT IT IS ACCURATE, THAT IT IS INTERPRETATIVE AND THAT IT IS DISSEMINATED IN A WAY WHICH WILL MAXIMISE THEIR IMPACT ON HEALTH POLICY. IT EMPHASISES THE NEED FOR COLLABORATION BETWEEN DIFFERENT SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY: IN HEALTH PROMOTION, IN HEALTH RESEARCH, INFORMATION SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS AND IN DATA COLLECTION.

THE FIRST ISSUE OF THIS REPORT DEALS WITH TWO VERY IMPORTANT DISEASES IN HONG KONG, HEART DISEASE AND LUNG CANCER. I HOPE THAT THIS WILL AROUSE GREATER AWARENESS OF THESE HEALTH PROBLEMS, GENERATE FEEDBACK, STRENGTHEN OUR PREVENTION STRATEGIES FOR PRIORITY AREAS, AND STIMULATE SUPPORT AND PARTICIPATION BY PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE.

I LOOK FORWARD TO DISCUSSING THE PUBLIC HEALTH REPORT WITH MEMBERS OF THE HEALTH PANEL AND GETTING · THEIR FEEDBACK ON OUR APPROACH.

IN CONCLUSION, "PUBLIC HEALTH IS THE SCIENCE AND ART OF PREVENTING DISEASE, PROLONGING LIFE AND PROMOTING HEALTH THROUGH THE ORGANISED EFFORTS OF SOCIETY". IT CANNOT BE ISOLATED TO A SINGLE BRANCH OF POLICY MAKERS. HEALTH IMPACTS ACROSS MANY POLICY AREAS AND SECTORS OF SOCIETY. THE ENHANCEMENT OF THE HEALTH OF THE PEOPLE REQUIRES THE CO-OPERATION OF ALL PARTIES. THERE IS AN IMPORTANT ROLE FOR THE INDIVIDUAL, THE FAMILY AND THE COMMUNITY IN THIS ASPECT. EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US CAN MAKE A LONG TERM DIFFERENCE TO OUR HEALTH THROUGH SIMPLE ACTIONS. LET US WORK TOGETHER ΤΟ HELP MAKE THAT DIFFERENCE.

THANK YOU, MR PRESIDENT.

0

PUBLIC HEALTH AND MUNICIPAL SERVICES (AMENDMENT) (NO.3) BILL 1994

FOLLOWING IS THE SPEECH BY THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR MICHAEL SUEN, IN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND MUNICIPAL SERVICES (AMENDMENT) (NO.3) BILL 1994 IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY):

MR PRESIDENT,

Ι MOVE THE SECOND READING OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND MUNICIPAL

(AMENDMENT) (NO.3) BILL 1994.

SERVICES

/THE AMENDMENT