Monitoring of diseases on the mainland may be easier for the World Health Organisation (WHO) if its top post is held by a person with a strong Chinese background, say Hong Kong doctors.
They were commenting after Beijing yesterday said it would recommend Margaret Chan Fung Fu-chun, a former Hong Kong director of health, to run for director-general of the WHO. Dr Chan is the WHO's assistant director-general for communicable diseases.
Choi Kin, president of the Hong Kong Medical Association, said Beijing would be more willing to co-operate with the WHO if the organisation was headed by Dr Chan.
'Beijing always feels insecure about opening up for inspections by foreigners. But it may be more willing to do so if the WHO is headed by someone whom it can trust' Dr Choi said.
'It would benefit Hong Kong if Beijing can better co-operate with the WHO in disease control and prevention, as Hong Kong is at risk of infectious diseases spread from mainland cities considering its close geographic proximity and busy traffic.'
He said criticism by the Legislative Council of Dr Chan's performance in handling the Sars outbreak would not harm her chances of running for the post.