Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao shakes hands with
medical workers June 30, 2003 during an inspection of the Prince of Wales
Hospital in Hong Kong, which is famous for treating SARS patients and doing
related research work after the outbreak of the disease. (Xinhua Photo)
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao expresses
his greetings to and respect for medical workers June 30, 2003 during an
inspection of the Prince of Wales Hospital in Hong Kong, which is famous for
treating SARS patients and doing related research work after the outbreak of the
disease. (Xinhua Photo)
HONG KONG, June 30 (Xinhuanet) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao attended here
Monday a ceremony of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government
commending Hong Kong SARS fighting heroes of medical profession and other
circles.
"On behalf of the Central Government, I wish to pay high tribute to all
those who have made remarkable contribution to the successful campaign against
severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)," Premier Wen told a group of Hong Kong
health care workers and representatives from other circles.
He extended the Central Government's most heartfelt condolences to the
families who have lost their loved ones in the epidemic.
Wen said that during the three-month long SARS storm, Hong Kong health
workers fought the disease with extraordinary courage and selfless devotion, its
science experts raced against time to tackle problems and seek solutions, its
citizens waged a united battle against the epidemic with one heart and one mind,
and its government faithfully fulfilled its duties and commitment to the people.
"It is such unprecedented solidarity that has enabled Hong Kong to prevail
(the fight against SARS)," said Wen.
He recalled Doctor Tse Yuen-man and other health workers who have
sacrificed their lives in the hard battle against SARS, saying that their great
names, heroic deeds and glorious virtues will live in people's heads forever.
Wen told HK people that the national cohesion fostered in a calamity would
make the nation stronger and drive it forward.
He said that people in the Mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan fought the
disease shoulder by shoulder in a spirit of mutual assistance, while Chinese
descendants across the world lent a helping hand to their brothers and sisters
in China.
"Blood is thicker than water. Such bond of kinship stands a perfect witness
to the strong cohesion and vitality of the Chinese nation," Wen said.
Wen said that the outbreak of SARS has cost dearly, but it has also given
people many valuable revelations, including the importance of harmony between
economic and social progress, that between urban and rural development, a
harmonious coexistence between man and nature, the building of public health
contingency mechanism and a fortified shield to protect the health and life of
the people. Enditem
