Cablegate: World Health Assembly Demarche Delivered to Hong

VZCZCXRO2026
PP RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHHK #1286 1310718
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 110718Z MAY 07
FM AMCONSUL HONG KONG
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1596
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 1097
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA PRIORITY

UNCLAS HONG KONG 001286

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR IO
STATE FOR ISN
STATE FOR EAP/CM
STATE FOR G/AIAG
STATE FOR M/MED AND M/MEDEX PETER WOOD
STATE FOR INR/EAP
HHS FOR OGHA - STEIGER, BHAT
BANGKOK FOR RMO, CDC
STATE PLEASE PASS TO USDA FOR DU/US LAMBERT
BEIJING FOR DSELIGSOHN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON AORC PREL WHO EAGR AMED KFLU HK CH
SUBJECT: WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY DEMARCHE DELIVERED TO HONG
KONG GOVERNMENT

REF: STATE 61739

1. (SBU) On May 9, ESTH Officer delivered reftel message to
Ms. Bonnie Yao, Assistant Secretary, Health, Welfare and Food
Bureau. Yao requested the information in letter format to
enable the Hong Kong Government to carefully review USG
concerns. On May 10, Economic/Political Section Chief sent a
letter to Mr. Patrick Nip, Deputy Secretary, Health, Welfare
and Food Bureau of the Hong Kong Government (HKG). ESTH
Officer held follow-up conversations with Nip and Yao, who
confirmed they had received the information and were studying
the U.S. position. ESTH Officer reiterated the need for
unrestricted sharing of AI samples for surveillance, risk
assessment and developing AI countermeasures. He also spoke
of the importance of retaining smallpox virus stocks. HKG
officials stated they would convey the USG's concerns to Dr.
York Chow, Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, who will
lead the Hong Kong delegation.
Cunningham

© Scoop Media