YORK CHOW LETTERS TO SECRETARY RICE AND SECRETARY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HONG KONG 004092 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR SECRETARY RICE HHS FOR SECRETARY LEAVITT STATE FOR EAP/CM AND EAP/EP TWANG STATE FOR G/AIAG JLANGE, HFOSTER, RFENDRICK STATE FOR M/MED AND M/MEDEX PETER WOOD HHS FOR OGHA - STEIGER, ELVANDER, BHAT BANGKOK FOR RMO, CDC STATE PLEASE PASS TO USDA FOR DU/US LAMBERT BEIJING FOR DSELIGSOHN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AMED ECON PREL KSTH TBIO EAGR CVIS HK CH SUBJECT: YORK CHOW LETTERS TO SECRETARY RICE AND SECRETARY LEAVITT ON MARGARET CHAN NOMINATION TO WHO ¶1. (U) Summary: Post received two letters from Dr. York Chow, Secretary of the Health, Welfare and Food in Hong Kong, asking for U.S. support for the candidacy of Margaret Chan to become Director General of the World Health Organization. The letters were addressed to the Secretary of State and Secretary of Health and Human Services. Chan's curriculum SIPDIS vitae and a campaign brochure accompanied the letters. Post will pouch the letter and campaign material back to the desk. A copy of the letters is conveyed in the remainder of this cable. End Summary. ¶2. (U) Letter to Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice: September 27, 2006 Ms. Condolezza Rice Secretary of State SIPDIS U.S. Department of State 2201 C Street NW Washington, DC 20520 U.S.A. Dear Ms. Rice, Director General, World Health Organization The Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China has nominated Dr. Margaret Chan as a candidate for the post of Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO Executive Board will decide on the candidature on 6-8 November 2006. I write to recommend Dr. Chan to you and to appeal for your support for her candidacy. Dr. Chan is an outstanding public health professional with integrity, strong sense of responsibility and solid professional and academic background. She had a first-hand experience of over 25 years of working in the public health authority of Hong Kong, witnessing and rising to the various challenges of public health needs of a community evolved from a light manufacturing industry-based economy to a cosmopolitan city. Before retiring from the Hong Kong civil service, Dr. Chan as the then Director of Health, was directly involved in tackling two unprecedented infectious diseases, both of which continue to remain a threat to global public health today - avian influenza and severe acute respiratory syndrome. During her past three years at WHO, she continued to work in this area and led global efforts to strengthen preparedness for human pandemic influenza. Such unparalleled experiences, highly relevant to the WHO's imminent tasks, makes her an ideal candidate for the Director General appointment. I attach for your reference Dr. Chan's curriculum vitae and Election Manifesto. Global public health is facing many challenges. It takes extraordinary vision, talent, ability and commitment to lead such an important agency. The Hong Kong community takes pride in having Dr. Chan as one of the candidates and fully supports her bid. We believe that Dr. Chan is eminently qualified and fully capable of rising to the challenge. I commend Dr. Chan to you. As United States of America is a Member of the WHO Executive Board, I would like to urge your country to vote for Dr. Chan in the November election. Yours sincerely, /signed/ (York Y N Chow) Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food SIPDIS Encl. cc. Consul-General of United States of America (End letter to Secretary Rice) ¶3. (U) Letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael Leavitt: HONG KONG 00004092 002 OF 002 September 27, 2006 Mr. Michael Leavitt Secretary of Health and Human Services SIPDIS U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 200 Independence Avenue, S.W. Washington, DC 20201 U.S.A. Dear Mr. Leavitt, Director General, World Health Organization The Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China has nominated Dr. Margaret Chan as a candidate for the post of Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO Executive Board will decide on the candidature on 6-8 November 2006. I write to recommend Dr. Chan to you and to appeal for your support for her candidacy. Dr. Chan is an outstanding public health professional with integrity, strong sense of responsibility and solid professional and academic background. She had a first-hand experience of over 25 years of working in the public health authority of Hong Kong, witnessing and rising to the various challenges of public health needs of a community evolved from a light manufacturing industry-based economy to a cosmopolitan city. Before retiring from the Hong Kong civil service, Dr. Chan as the then Director of Health, was directly involved in tackling two unprecedented infectious diseases, both of which continue to remain a threat to global public health today - avian influenza and severe acute respiratory syndrome. During her past three years at WHO, she continued to work in this area and led global efforts to strengthen preparedness for human pandemic influenza. Such unparalleled experiences, highly relevant to the WHO's imminent tasks, makes her an ideal candidate for the Director General appointment. I attach for your reference Dr. Chan's curriculum vitae and Election Manifesto. Global public health is facing many challenges. It takes extraordinary vision, talent, ability and commitment to lead such an important agency. The Hong Kong community takes pride in having Dr. Chan as one of the candidates and fully supports her bid. We believe that Dr. Chan is eminently qualified and fully capable of rising to the challenge. I commend Dr. Chan to you. As United States of America is a Member of the WHO Executive Board, I would like to urge your country to vote for Dr. Chan in the November election. Yours sincerely, /signed/ (York Y N Chow) Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food SIPDIS Encl. cc. Consul-General of United States of America Cunningham