April 06, 2013

Acting Chief Executive Carrie Lam said the Government will be on high alert against Influenza A (H7N9) even though no human cases have been recorded in Hong Kong, nor infected birds found in the city.
 
Speaking to the media today, Mrs Lam said the preparedness plan has remained at the ‘alert' response level, and the Government will stay vigilant.
 
At a large scale inter-departmental meeting yesterday, she gave four messages to all attendees.
 
They must be united against the virus, she told them.
 
Secondly, she asked all departments to be well-prepared, including public hospital  isolation facilities. They must do preparatory work for culling all poultry if infected birds are found.
 
Mrs Lam also asked all departments to be open and transparent to alleviate public anxiety. She said health officials have been giving daily briefings.
 
Announcements have been made at immigration checkpoints on the latest information, and a special website on prevention of avian influenza has been created, she said.
 
She said prevention and detection work requires community support, adding all departments must maintain public hygiene in places under their purview.
 
On the ongoing container terminal disputes, Mrs Lam said the Labour Department is working on it, hoping to resolve the problem peacefully.