Hong Kong Removed from WHO List of SARS-infected Areas

Recognition of the fact that Hong Kong has SARS firmly under control was made evident June 23, 2003 when the World Health Organization (WHO) removed Hong Kong from its list of SARS-infected areas.

The last local SARS case was isolated on June 2. "This is a very significant achievement," said Dr David Heymann, Executive Director of Communicable Diseases at WHO. "Hong Kong, with its dense population and fluid border with China, had one of the hardest outbreaks to control. This success means that the whole world can now feel safer from the SARS threat."

The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, expressed his happiness about this development, as well as his great sorrow about the lives lost in Hong Kong due to SARS. He spoke at a media session held in Amoy Gardens, a housing estate particularly badly affected by SARS. 

Mr Tung paid tribute to “the concerted efforts of all the community, but I particularly want to single out those frontline medical workers, without whose valiant efforts we would not be where we are.

The Chief Executive also stressed the need for continued vigilance and for learning from the experiences of the past 3 months. He outlined steps taken by the Government to boost international confidence, tourism and the economy and said, “all these medium and long-term measures will add vitality to our economy and get us going again."

The Director of the HKETO, Mrs Rosanna Ure, said: “It is the best international recognition of the comprehensive and vigorous measures that have been in place in Hong Kong to contain the virus. Hong Kong is confident that it has the capability and readiness to deal with any future outbreak of infectious diseases."

The lifting of travel advisories by the WHO and Centers for Disease Control in late May and early June had already sent positive signals, resulting in visitors and businesspeople again making arrangements to come back to Hong Kong. 

Building on these positive developments, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has launched a high-profile “Relaunch Hong Kong" campaign worldwide. 

At the same time, the HKETO, Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the Hong Kong Tourism Board in Canada have embarked on a series of major promotional activities in Canada to rebuild confidence in Hong Kong.

Included in the ambitious programme are a Hong Kong Film Festival, “Gems from Asia’s Hollywood "A Retrospective of John Woo" and a business mission from Canada to Hong Kong in conjunction with the July mega shows, Hong Kong Gifts and Premium Fair, Hong Kong Houseware Fair and Hong Kong Licensing Show conference.


 

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