WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY DEMARCHE DELIVERED TO HONG

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