Press Releases

Transcript of remarks by SFH at QMH

Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, at Queen Mary Hospital today (August 4):

Reporter: (on the condition of the Secretary for Development, Mr Paul Chan)

Secretary for Food and Health: The Secretary for Development, Mr Paul Chan, has sustained what we call a whiplash injury to the neck. It is a very common injury in traffic accidents. During a traffic accident, since the trunk is protected by the seat belt, whereas the head and the neck are not, the head will be swung into flexion or extension and the cervical spine will also be swung into a different shape. During this process, particularly during the extension, the cervical spine may suffer from an injury. In the Secretary for Development, Mr Paul Chan's case, I understand that he does not have any signs and symptoms pertaining to neurological injury. He feels severe pain around his neck right now, which is because of the fact that the muscles surrounding the cervical spine will be thrown into contraction in order to protect the cervical spine as well as the spinal cord from injury.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

Ends/Sunday, August 4, 2013
Issued at HKT 21:00

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