Command centre: Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Dr York Chow, Director of Health Dr PY Lam and guests tour the new Centre for Health Protection facilities.

The Centre for Health Protection's Emergency Response Centre and the Risk Communication Centre have opened, to keep the community better informed on health risks and to work closely with other departments in combating infectious disease.

The Emergency Response Centre, featuring the latest communication facilities, will act as the nerve centre of the Department of Health in dealing with major outbreaks.

Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Dr York Chow said the facilities will enhance the centre's collaboration with Mainland and international health authorities. He said public vigilance against infectious disease is crucial to the centre's success and a variety of education programmes are being offered to heighten awareness on personal hygiene.

Dr Chow thanked the Jockey Club Charities Trust for donating $500 million to help fund the centre.

Director of Health Dr PY Lam said swift collection of disease information and timely communication with the public in times of an infectious disease outbreak are key to containing disease.

Dr Lam said during major outbreaks, the Emergency Response Centre will collate up-to-date information about the disease, compile progress reports for senior government officials, while the public will be kept informed of the latest developments via press conferences and briefings held at the Risk Communication Centre.