The 3rd Hong Kong Public Health Forum took place on December 12, 2011. This is an annual flagship event of the School of Public Health / Department of Community Medicine. About 150 health professionals, staff, students, government officials attended the inspiring occasion.  Professor Paul KH Tam, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Research), HKU officiated at the event and Dr. CH Leong, HKU Council Chairman, Dr. PY Lam, Director of Health, Department of Health and Dr. SV Lo, Director (Strategy and Planning), Hospital Authority were the guests of honour. 

The theme was “A Growing Alcohol Epidemic: Uncontrolled and Uncontrollable?”. Professor Sally Casswell from Massey University, New Zealand gave the Anthony J Hedley Lecture on “Recent Developments in Intervention Research: Regulation of Alcohol Promotion”. Other plenary speakers were Dr. TH Leung, Dr. Patrick CK Li, Dr. Daniel SY Ho, Dr. Mary Schooling and Dr. SW Yoon. Professors Anthony J Hedley and Sian M Griffiths were the discussants and they had shared their views on alcohol control in Hong Kong before the open discussion.

Active and inspiring discussion amongst the participants, speakers and discussants was observed. Professor TH Lam, Director of School of Pubic Health concluded that emphasis on alcohol as a group one human carcinogen can raise public awareness and media concern. It is critical to call on the HKSAR government to carry out effective alcohol control policies and not to waive the tax for spirits. He proposed to establish an alliance or NGO to be called HKACT, meaning Hong Kong Alcohol Control Together.
 

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