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The Director of Health of Hong Kong, Dr Constance Chan, today (April 19) met with the Director General of the Department of Supervision on Health Quarantine of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ), Mr Zhang Jiwen, in Shenzhen, and discussed strengthening health quarantine measures at boundary control points (BCPs) in Guangdong, Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Zhuhai with the Deputy Director General of the Guangdong Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Mr Chen Xiaofan; the Deputy Director General of the Shenzhen Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Mr Hu Longfei; and the Deputy Director General of the Zhuhai Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Mr Pan Zhaosi, in a bid to prevent the avian influenza A(H7N9) virus and novel coronavirus infections.
The Department of Health and the respective entry-exit inspection and quarantine bureaus of Guangdong, Shenzhen and Zhuhai have implemented a series of measures on the prevention of infectious diseases. During the meeting, the representatives shared their experience and exchanged views on the control of epidemics. They unanimously agreed to deploy additional manpower to enhance health checks at the BCPs during the Labour Day holidays on the Mainland. Mainland BCP staff will also enhance temperature screening for outgoing travellers and immediately follow-up on suspected cases of infectious diseases. In addition, Guangdong, Shenzhen and Zhuhai will strengthen health education and publicity for travellers and the travel sector to increase their awareness of preventive and control measures for infectious diseases.
At the meeting, Shenzhen and Hong Kong representatives remarked that health checks and temperature screening for cross-boundary students had been strengthened. Incoming visitors including students who feel unwell will be contacted and arranged to receive medical attention and treatment in their home places when necessary.
Regarding notification arrangements for intercity through trains between Guangdong/Beijing/Shanghai and Hong Kong and for passenger vessels between Guangdong/Shenzhen/Zhuhai and Hong Kong, the representatives agreed to continue their health publicity for outgoing travellers, and to remind train and passenger vessel attendants to watch out for suspected patients and notify such cases to the health quarantine authorities at the relevant destinations for timely examination of patients, contact tracing and disinfection of the environment.
The Director of Health, Dr Constance Chan, thanked the AQSIQ for its concern over the control and prevention measures at BCPs. She also expressed her deep gratitude to Guangdong, Shenzhen and Zhuhai for carrying out temperature screening for outgoing travellers as well as for their unfailing support to Hong Kong in the prevention of infectious diseases.
Ends/Friday, April 19, 2013
Issued at HKT 20:06
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