Chief Executive (CE) Donald Tsang told foreign leaders at Busan, South Korea, yesterday that Hong Kong was well prepared to tackle a possible outbreak of avian flu in the territory.

Tsang was speaking during bilateral meetings with the Singaporean and Australian prime ministers and the Vietnamese president before the 13th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting that was scheduled to start today.

On the recent outbreaks of avian influenza among poultry in Asia and Europe, Tsang said Hong Kong had put in place a comprehensive preventive and surveillance programme to reduce the risk of such outbreaks in the territory.

"International and regional collaboration is important in combating the spread of the disease. We look forward to closer liaison and exchanges with the international community in the battle against avian influenza, especially in tackling the potential hazard that the disease could pose to public health," Tsang said.

The CE discussed in detail with Vietnamese President Tran Duc Luong the various measures Hong Kong had taken to safeguard public health after the disease had broken out in Asia and Europe. They agreed that protection of public health had been and would continue to be the governments' top priority.

Border check-up

From today, people crossing over into Hong Kong through Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau will have their temperature read as a precautionary step against the spread of bird flu from the mainland.

This move comes after three cases of humans contracting the deadly virus were confirmed in Hunan and Anhui provinces on Wednesday. Shenzhen and Zhuhai have already begun body temperature checks at control points.

Assistant Director of Health Cindy Lai said 11 infra-red thermo-imaging machines had been installed at Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau immigration control points. This is an important public health measure to protect the health of passengers and the community, she said.

Travellers' temperatures will be read by members of the Auxiliary Medical Service. A person with a high temperature will undergo a second check. Once confirmed that he indeed has a fever, he will be undergo a flu diagnosis test and, if required, be referred to a hospital for further tests.

Similar procedures will be adhered to later at the other immigration control points of Man Kam To, Sha Tau Kok, Hung Hom Train Station, China Ferry Terminal at Tsim Sha Tsui and Hong Kong-Macao Ferry Terminal at Sheung Wan.

A person who has contracted the avian flu may not necessarily have fever initially, Lai said, but he can spread the virus during that stage.

She reminded people outside Hong Kong to maintain good personal hygiene at all times. They ought to avoid touching live birds, including poultry.

Economic impact

On the possible impact of a bird flu epidemic on the economy, government economist Kwok Kwok-cheun said it was not easy to make an estimate now, for many variables were involved. But what is certain is that tourism-related industries and those that involve human contact would have to bear the brunt.

Lawmaker Selina Chow, of the tourism sector, said the negative impact of avian flu on the local tourism industry was certain but not yet evident.
 
(China Daily HK Edition November 18, 2005)