HONG KONG, Oct. 23 (Xinhuanet) -- Hong Kong´s Center for Health Protection has made a plan to counter the coming flu hike during winter and has prepared sufficient vaccine for a large-scale vaccination program next month, its controller Leung Pak-yin said Saturday.

    Speaking on a radio program, Leung said there was a slim chanceof an avian flu outbreak in Hong Kong. But he warned there was a certain degree of risk as there were suspected cases of man-to-maninfection of the virus in neighboring countries.

    He said the center would closely liaise with the World Health Organization and authorities of neighboring countries to get related information, as well as to monitor local flu statistics and the virus transformation situation.

    Leung said cross-departmental meetings and public forums would be held in Hong Kong for medical professionals and the general public so as to assess risk and map out a response plan.

    He appealed to members of the public not to underestimate theircontribution to improving environmental hygiene, adding that refraining from littering and water accumulation as well as frequent hand washing were important practices.

    As regards prevention of avian flu, Leung called on the poultrysector to strictly enforce the rest day rule and vaccination requirement. In the long run, he said reduction in contact betweenhumans and poultry was the right direction.

    Turning to the Center for Health Protection, which was established on June 1, Leung said its function of monitoring and control over infectious diseases had been strengthened.

    He said the most crucial part in infectious disease prevention was communication with the public, adding the center would disseminate information as soon as possible so that people could join with medical personnel to fight against disease.

    Leung said the center, after its inauguration on Oct. 27, wouldserve as a multi-purpose center for infectious diseases, in the areas of data collection, communications, reaction and training.

    On non-communicable diseases, Leung said the center would conduct strategic studies and analyses on the four common diseasesof cancer, heart problems, diabetes and accident injuries to educate the public to pay attention to their health and early prevention.