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HEALTH DOCUMENTS AND CHARGES WERE ALSO INCLUDED IN THE IHR.
APPLICATION TO HONG KONG
4. THE IHR ENTERED INTO FORCE ON 1 JANUARY 1971. THEY CAME INTO FORCE FOR THE UNITED KINGDOM AND WERE APPLIED TO HONG KONG FROM THE SAME DATE AS THEY SUPERSEDED CONVENTIONS AND REGULATIONS TO WHICH THE UNITED KINGDOM WAS ALREADY A PARTY (ARTICLE 86) (PLEASE SEE ANNEX B FOR REFERENCE).
BENEFITS
5. THE IHR PROVIDES AN EFFECTIVE SYSTEM FOR EXCHANGE OF INTERNATIONAL EPIDEMIOLOGICAL INFORMATION THROUGH THE WHO. WITH SUCH INFORMATION, HONG KONG HAS BEEN ABLE TO APPLY APPROPRIATE HEALTH MEASURES ON INTERNATIONAL ARRIVALS IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASES, PARTICULARLY PLAGUE. THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR HONG KONG AS PLAGUE IS ENDEMIC IN SOME NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES. HONG KONG HAS ALSO BENEFITED FROM THE EXPERT ADVICE RENDERED BY THE WHO ON THE PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF DISEASES, PARTICULARLY FOR PLAGUE AND MALARIA. INTERNATIONAL TRAFFIC FROM HONG KONG HAS ALSO RECEIVED MINIMAL INTERFERENCE FROM CONTRACTING PARTIES AS A RESULT OF THE APPLICATION OF THE IHR TO THE TERRITORY.
PROPOSALS
6. THE BRITISH SIDE PROPOSE THAT THE IHR SHOULD CONTINUE TO APPLY TO THE HONG KONG SAR AFTER 30 JUNE 1997 IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE JOINT DECLARATION. THE PRC IS A PARTY TO THE IHR AND, PROVIDED THAT IT REMAINS SO, IT WILL BE NECESSARY ONLY TO ENSURE THAT THE INTERNATIONAL RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS CURRENTLY AFFECTING HONG KONG ARE FULLY PRESERVED IN A MANNER CONSISTENT WITH THE JOINT DECLARATION AND TO CONSIDER WHETHER ANY ACTION IS NEEDED IN THIS REGARD.
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