A fresh appeal was made by Hong Kong for the decision not to invite its athletes to the Special Olympics in Ireland next month to be reversed when its secretary for health, welfare and food met the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, in Geneva yesterday. Eithne Donnellan, Health Correspondent, reports.
The half-hour meeting between Mr Martin and Dr Y.E. Kiong took place at Dr Kiong's request. Both ministers were attending the annual WHO World Health Assembly, where SARS was one of the main items on the agenda.
The meeting was described as cordial by a Department of Health spokeswoman, who said Dr Kiong had outlined to Mr Martin and the Department of Health's chief medical officer, Dr Jim Kiely, the steps taken by Hong Kong to curtail the spread of SARS.
Dr Kiong asked if a number of medical experts from Hong Kong could discuss via teleconference the rationale behind the decision made by the State's SARS expert group. Mr Martin gave the go-ahead for the teleconference and it is expected to take place later this week.