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The Director-General of Civil Aviation, Mr Norman Lo, today (December 14) received a good evaluation report from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which confirms that the relevant policies, training and communication procedures put in place at the Hong Kong International Airport fully complies with the ICAO's guidelines for preventing the spread of communicable diseases through air travel.
The evaluation report was endorsed by Dr Jarnail Singh, the ICAO Aviation Medicine Expert responsible for the Cooperative Arrangement for Preventing the Spread of Communicable Diseases through Air Travel (CAPSCA) Project. Dr Jarnail Singh conducted a two-day evaluation in Hong Kong on December 13 and 14 to review the compliance and implementation of the ICAO's guidelines for preventing the spread of communicable diseases through air travel at the Hong Kong International Airport.
Mr Lo said, "We are glad that Hong Kong fully meets the ICAO's evaluation on preventing the spread of communicable diseases through air travel. It reaffirms that our training and procedures in place at the airport are appropriate and in compliance with international standards."
The CAPSCA Evaluation Project was initiated by the ICAO which aims at reducing the risk of spreading Avian Influenza and similar communicable diseases by air travel through cooperative arrangements between the participating states/administrations and airports. Under the project, the ICAO will send experts to visit participating airports to ensure its guidelines for preventing the spread of communicable diseases are adhered to and fully implemented by the participating civil aviation authorities, airport authorities, health authorities and airlines.
During the two-day evaluation in Hong Kong, Dr Jarnail Singh met with representatives of the Civil Aviation Department, Airport Authority Hong Kong and Department of Health. The evaluation includes awareness and compliance with the International Health Regulations, communication of information on travel and spread of communicable diseases, awareness of phases in the WHO global influenza preparedness plan and their implications for screening, awareness of airport specific guidelines, etc.
Mr Lo said, "We will remain vigilant against the spread of communicable diseases through air travel. The Civil Aviation Department, together with the Department of Health and Airport Authority Hong Kong will continue to ensure the ICAO's guidelines for preventing the spread of communicable diseases are adhered to and fully implemented."
Dr Jarnail Singh will leave Hong Kong today to continue his evaluations at other international airports.
Ends/Thursday, December 14, 2006
Issued at HKT 15:56
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