Press Releases

Public health is always the first priority

In response to media enquiries, a spokesman for the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau reaffirmed today (January 30) that public health was the first priority of the Government in all decisions made during the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) outbreak.

"At no time was the interest of the people of Hong Kong sacrificed, including the residents of Amoy Gardens," he said.

The Legislative Council is conducting an inquiry on the SARS outbreak. The Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong, will appear at the public hearing of the Select Committee to provide evidence and answer questions, the spokesman said.

The following is a transcript of Dr Yeoh's remarks made in response to a question on the subject at a press conference this morning:

Dr Yeoh: I just want to confirm that in the decisions made on SARS, we always took public health as our first priority. And we will be obviously appearing in the LegCo inquiry to answer all these allegations. I don't think it is appropriate for me to answer in detail to some of the allegations since this is a subject of public enquiry in LegCo. But just to reaffirm that when we made our decisions on SARS, we made it always on the grounds of public health. It was always the public interest that was taken. I do not know the basis of some of the comments that were made. But just to confirm to you that public health always comes first and the interest of the public is the most important and foremost consideration.

Ends/Friday, January 30, 2004
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