Tuberculosis is still an important public health problem in Hong Kong, and the collaboration of all sectors of the community is essential in the fight to eliminate the disease, a Hong Kong official said Sunday.

Addressing a ceremony at the Science Museum marking the World TB Day, Chairman of the Hospital Authority C H Leong said the community should always be alert to the risks of tuberculosis and join hands with the medical profession and government in combating the disease.

The ceremony was organized jointly by the Hong Kong Tuberculosis, the Chest and Heart Diseases Association, the Department of Health and the Health Authority.

Deputy Director of Health, Lam Ping-yan echoed that although the notification rate of TB in Hong Kong had much improved over the past 40 or 50 years, the figures had not decreased in the past 10 years.

"Each year, there are around 7,000 notified cases in Hong Kong, with a rate of around 100 cases per 100,000 population," Lam said. "Therefore, we should spare no effort in combating TB and continue to raise public awareness of the disease."

Currently, Hong Kong is classified by the World Health Organization as being among the places in the western Pacific region having an "intermediate TB burden with good health infrastructure."

To prevent TB, people should build up their bodily resistance by getting adequate rest and exercise, adhering to a balanced diet and maintaining good indoor ventilation, Lam noted.