THE Department of Health has submitted proposals to minimise inconvenience caused by compulsory random AIDS tests on frequent travellers to the mainland.
Director of Health Dr Lee Shiu-hung said: ''The Department of Health has established a channel of communication with the Ministry of Health in Beijing and the Public Health Bureau in Guangdong.'' Dr Lee declined to disclose what solutions were being considered but stressed that they should be acceptable to both governments.
Concern has been expressed after reports that travellers had been stopped at the border by Chinese officials to undergo the tests. Questions were raised on the accuracy of the tests, which give an immediate result.
Dr Lee said the Hongkong Government had no plan to issue certificates to people free of the HIV virus.
Local AIDS groups said the Government should urge China to abolish the tests.
An executive of AIDS Concern, Sister Maureen McGinley, said it was time for the two governments to map out strategies for fighting AIDS because, ''the two [places] will be one [country] and the problem will still exist''.