The lessons Hong Kong took very seriously from last year's outbreak of SARS are the effective use of IT, the importance of risk communication, and the strategic role of a command structure for emergency response, said a health official Monday.

Hong Kong's Permanent Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Carrie Yau, said at the Hong Kong SARS Forum that the forum gives Hong Kong an opportunity to meet with health care experts from allover the world to share knowledge on different aspects of SARS anddraw lessons from it.

He said that the contribution of IT to containing the spread ofSARS in Hong Kong was remarkable. "We could never have controlled the epidemic as well as we did without employing a computerized information and communication systems to process the data we had as the virus was spreading quickly through our densely populated city."

Another key to successful public health crisis management lies in effective risk communication with the public, said Yau.

When "perception becomes reality", and rumors spread like a hill fire, it is necessary to address not just the facts, but alsopeople's concerns. The appearance of a credible, knowledgeable andauthoritative person in public, displaying sympathy, concern and competence, is often the most important contribution to stabilizing public sentiment, said Yau.

"So we attached great importance to our communication with the media. From the onset of the outbreak, the government gave daily briefings to the Hong Kong and international media. We stepped up our communication efforts further by conducting these briefings ina manner: same time, same place, same spokespersons, welcomed by our media and community at large.

"This dedicated approach on external communication proved very effective in enhancing public awareness of the disease. Moreover, we were able to dispel speculation and clarify public misconceptions. We fostered a close relationship with the media, which in turn helped enlist the support of the public as they received accurate health messages and pitched in to take positive steps themselves," said Yau.

In view of the emergence of new infectious diseases and other health hazards, sustained efforts are required to review and update the plans to ensure the continued applicability and conformance with international best practices, Yau said.

He urged to continue Hong Kong's teamwork in the never-ending battle against emerging diseases, "so that we can safeguard the public health of Hong Kong."