Hong Kong and mainland authorities have signed an agreement to enhance co-operation on health quarantine measures at boundary control points to reduce the risk of communicable diseases.

Director of Health Lam Ping-yan and Department of Supervision on Health Quarantine of the General Administration on Quality Supervision, Inspection & Quarantine Director General Chen Xiaofeng signed the document in Beijing.

Under the agreement, which came into immediate effect, both sides will:

* strengthen the notification system and communication channel on disease outbreaks and public-health incidents;

* develop core capacity at points of entry and strengthen relevant prevention and control measures as required by international health regulations;

* enhance prevention and also control of disease vectors at points of entry, including vector surveillance on cross-boundary conveyances; and

* step up contingency response to public health incidents.

The two sides will at the same time boost co-operation in technology and skill development in health-quarantine measures, including public-health risk assessment; enhance surveillance and laboratory examination of major or emerging infectious diseases, and training of public health professionals.

China Daily

(HK Edition 08/07/2008 page1)