Hong Kong on Wednesday hailed the nomination of Dr. Margaret Chan, former health chief of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the next director general.

Chan was chosen ahead of Mexico's Julio Frenk on Wednesday afternoon after three other candidates from Kuwait, Spain and Japan were eliminated during earlier voting by the UN agency's decision-making body Executive Board in Geneva. The nomination will be tabled to the World Health Assembly, which will hold a special session Thursday to appoint the next director-general.

Chief Executive Donald Tsang, who is now in Belgium for an official visit, congratulated Chan on her nomination through phone.

He said Chan is the first Chinese who will head an UN institution, which is the glory and pride of Hong Kong and China at large.

He praised the support by the Chinese Central Government for the election and believed that Chan's vast experience in public health administration, especially gained during the major epidemic SARS in 2003, will help her do a better job in the new position.

He also hoped Hong Kong would have a closer relations with the WHO in the future.

Hong Kong's Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food York Chow hailed the news. Noting Chan got 24 votes from the WHO Executive Board, which is composed of 34 members, Chow said this shows the success of Chan's election campaign, the Central Government's support and the strength of the Foreign Affairs and Health Ministries.

He praised Chan for her excellent communication skills and her rich experience in public health issues. He said she will work with impartiality and fairness, not limiting her scope to the mainland and Hong Kong.

Hong Kong's Hospital Authority said Chan's nomination will boost relations among China, China's Hong Kong region and the WHO, which will contribute to a better work in upgrading supervision standards and protecting human health.

Director of Hong Kong's Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said he was proud when hearing the news. As the world is endangered by the threat of epidemics, Chan will have a very challenging task in the future, he said.

Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine of Hong Kong University expected Chan to play a more positive role in the WHO and lead the world to face all kinds of difficulties in her area. It also hoped that Hong Kong medical circle could become more active in world health affairs.

Li Shaohong, chairman of the World Chinese Public Hygiene Association and former director of Hong Kong Department of Health, said Chan's nomination represented the recognition of Hong Kong's medical achievements by the international community. After taking the post, Chan's top priority should be given to promoting communications between the WHO and its members, and improving medical conditions in developing world.

Wang Jiaying, director of Asia-pacific Research Institute of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, said the Central Government's full support for Chan's election shows that it attaches great importance to Hong Kong and its talents. It also shows the expectation by the international community for China to play a better role as a responsible country.

Li Baiquan, professor of the Open University of Hong Kong, said Chan's nomination is the success of China's diplomacy. He believed this will help upgrade China's international image and strengthen its global influence.

Source: Xinhua