Title: Public health issues in Hong Kong and China [editorial]

POPLINE Document Number: 142257

Author(s):

Lee SH

Source citation:

JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY AND COMMUNITY HEALTH, 1999 Mar;53(3):130-1.

Abstract:

The 1997 return of Hong Kong to Chinese jurisdiction has created public health opportunities and challenges. Public health problems attendant upon industrialization and urbanization on the mainland include environmental pollution, food contamination, and increasing occupational injuries and traffic accidents. Major problems in Hong Kong have included outbreaks of infectious diseases and food poisoning. Chronic diseases in both areas have been caused by socioeconomic changes that led to lifestyle changes, such as increased tobacco use. With smoking rates already over 30% in China and 15% in Hong Kong, there is concern that multinational tobacco companies will attempt to increase their market in developing countries to compensate for losses at home. A further concern is the increase in incidence of sexually transmitted disease. The reunification of Hong Kong and China, however, presents opportunities for joint research in areas of medicine and public health of common interest; joint training of health care workers; and cooperation in the prevention, control, and surveillance of infectious diseases and in environmental protection. Challenges include securing the necessary government support and resources to implement new activities, mobilizing the community to improve community health, enlisting the support and cooperation of other sectors, and revamping the outdated organizational structure of government agencies dealing with public health issues.

Keywords:

Hong Kong
China
Critique
Public Health
Developed Countries
Asia, Eastern
Asia
Developing Countries
Health