Notably, the IMC also played the role of an interagency coordinator overseeing
the activities of other ministries and their subsidiaries. On 7 April 2003 (five weeks
after the first case of SARS was reported), the CEG and a ministerial committee was
formed. The CEG was chaired by the Permanent Secretary of Home Affairs and
consisted of elements from three other ministries: the MOH, the Ministry of Defense
(MOD) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). In particular, the role of the