The Centre for Health Protection (Chinese: 衛生防護中心) is an agency under the Department of Health in Hong Kong and responsible for health and safety. Established in June 2004 in response to the SARS outbreak in Hong Kong. CHP plays the same role and function as the Centers for Disease Control in the United States, and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control in the European Union (EU). The vision of the CHP is to be a centre of excellence in disease prevention and control. Primary mission of the CHP is to achieve effective prevention and control of diseases in Hong Kong in collaboration with major local and international stakeholders.