YORK CHOW LETTERS TO SECRETARY RICE AND SECRETARY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HONG KONG 004092

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Encl.
cc. Consul-General of United States of America

Cunningham