Hong Kong AIDS Foundation: Press Release

HONG KONG AIDS FOUNDATION
S.The Hong Kong AIDS Foundation hosted a satellite symposium on 10
July 2000 (Monday) at the XIII International AIDS Conference held in
Durban, South Africa, a continent devastated by the HIV epidemic. The
symposium entitled "HIV/AIDS in Chinese Communities- Threats and
Opportunities in the New Millennium" had the participation of 150
delegates coming from more than 10 places and countries. Chaired by Dr.
Homer Tso, Chairman of the Advisory Council on AIDS, the symposium
had presentations and reports made by speakers from PRC, HKSAR, Taipei,
Australia and UNAIDS.
_Ms. Anna Wu, Chairperson of the Equal Opportunities Commission,
_among other things, stressed the importance of creating a non< discriminatory and non-hostile environment with facets involving public
___ education, contribution of self-help groups and NGOs, legislation,
administrative measures and judicial procedures so as to make AIDS
__ preventive efforts effective.
Prof. Zhang Kong Lai of China AIDS Network and Ms. Bai Bagasao
_of UNAIDS both viewed the problem of AIDS in China to be a "time
- bomb" and considered it important for China to learn from international
experience and expand its AIDS responses at all levels and in terms of
preventive work, policy development and resources deployment.
In wrapping up the discussion, Dr. C. H. Leong, Chairman of the Hong
Kong AIDS Foundation concluded that the problem of AIDS in Asia in the
new millennium including the Chinese communities would be a growing
and worrying one. He saw an urgent need for Chinese communities to, like
the theme of the Conference, "Break the Silence" and have a closer look at
the matter with "openness" and "compassion".
Should you require further information, please contact us at NGO
booth no.72.

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