Public hospitals well prepared for Olympic equestrian events (with photos)
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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

    The Chairman of the Hospital Authority (HA), Mr Anthony Wu, and HA Chief Executive, Mr Shane Solomon, today (February 27) met with the visiting Vice-Minister of Health, Dr Chen Xiaohong, and the Deputy Director of the Games Services of the Beijing Organising Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG), Dr Dai Jianping, to update them on HA's preparedness for the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian Events.

    The visiting party was briefed on the crisis management and co-ordination of contingency plans of medical services for the equestrian events.

    During the competition and training period, HA will field medical teams to the Sha Tin and the Beas River equestrian venues to provide medical services.  The Prince of Wales Hospital (PWH) will be designated as the hospital for the equestrian events, while the North District Hospital will be used as a back up for emergency care for the events at Beas River.  The Queen Elizabeth Hospital will be the hospital for providing medical services to supporting non-athletes.

    To better understand the preparedness of the designated hospitals, the delegation went to PWH in the afternoon and visited departments involved in the provision of medical services at the forthcoming equestrian events.

    "HA is honoured to be entrusted with the mission to provide medical services for the 2008 Olympic and Paralympics Equestrian Events," said Chief Executive Mr Solomon. "We are committed to reflecting the universal values of the Olympic spirit - unity, friendship, progress, harmony, participation and dream. The HA will give full support to the Hong Kong SAR Government and BOCOG at their request in the area of professional expertise, equipment and manpower resources without compromising the standard and service of local medical services."

Ends/Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Issued at HKT 19:20

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