In the early morning, newspaper publishers begin distributing the papers in Central District just as they have done every day for decades. This is the way Hong Kong people begin their day, with a newspaper in hand, their moods changing according to the stories they read. On November 9th, 2006, they read news that had been long in the making. Dr. Margaret Chan had just been appointed director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO).

"I'm glad she got the opportunity. It's an honor for China. I hope she does a good job.It makes me proud to be Chinese when I see another Chinese honored by being appointed to such a high position," sais Hong Kong resident.

"Hello friends! I'm very happy to be back in Hong Kong," said Margaret Chan.

In 1994 Dr. Chan was appointed Hong Kong's Director of Health, and during her time in the position was tested by the avian flu outbreak and the SARS epidemic. After the SARS outbreak was contained in Hong Kong in 2003, she joined the WHO as Director of the Department for Protection of the Human Environment.

In July 2006, the Chinese government decided to nominate Dr. Chan as a candidate for director-general of the WHO to further signify that the great nation wanted to assume its share of responsibility in the international community. The international community responded by acknowledging her outstanding contributions in the field of public health, and the great effort the Chinese government went to in supporting her helped convince voters that she was the best candidate.

When delegates from the Chinese interior, Hong Kong and Macao entered the polling venue to elect the director-general of the WHO on November 8th, 2006, Dr. Cai Xiaoyang, a member of the Hong Kong delegation, witnessed the moment.

"When you enter the auditorium where a large international meeting is being held, you have to wear a nametag. You don't think about what locality you're from; you just think of yourself as a Chinese delegate. Others will see you the same way – they will think of you as being from China, not Hong Kong or some other locality. That's the feeling you have. When Dr. Chan won, we felt it was a victory for the whole of China," said Dr. Cai Xiaoyang, Health Department of Hong Kong SAR.

November 8th, 2006, after four rounds of voting by the executive committee of the WHO, Margaret Chan was selected as one of five candidates short-listed to become Director-General of the WHO.

The next day, at a closed plenary session of all member states of the WHO, the delegates elected the Chinese candidate, Dr. Margaret Chan, as the new Director-General of the WHO. She had received the votes of 140 of the 149 countries attending the meeting, the most votes any candidate had ever received in the history of the WHO. Dr. Chan's election was a manifestation of China's rising influence in the world.

"This election was very competitive because many countries nominated very capable and competitive candidates.I whole heartedly thank the Chinese central government for the faith it showed in me by nominating me for this important position," said Margaret Chan.

"It is only because China has become strong that we could persuade other countries to vote for Dr. Chan. So on the one hand I am proud because she is from Hong Kong, and on the other hand, she was able to receive this honor only because Hong Kong returned to the motherland and became a part of China," said Peggy Lam, chairperson of the Hong Kong of Federation of Women.

"I hope I can do something for my country. My present thinking is that I want to do a good job as director-general of WHO, and that if I do so, it will be a contribution China makes to international society. This is the best way I can repay the motherland for supporting me," said Margaret Chan.