CE Addresses “Business After SARS" Conference

The “Business After SARS" Joint Business Community Conference, held on June 7, gave the Hong Kong Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, the opportunity to once again express his gratitude to Hong Kong’s health care professionals and to reiterate his confidence in Hong Kong’s ability to overcome the obstacles posed by the SARS outbreak.

Mr Tung paid tribute to the commitment, professionalism and courage of Hong Kong’s doctors, nurses and other medical workers, saying, “From the bottom of my heart I say to all our healthcare workers: You are the real heroes of our community; we are indebted to you."

Acknowledging the devastating blow that SARS dealt to Hong Kong, Mr Tung said: “The full impact of SARS will only be reflected in the 2nd and 3rd quarters, where we expect sharp falls in the GDP growth figures." However, he pointed out that the HK$11.8 billion package drawn up by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government to provide support for the various affected sectors is expected to help the economic recovery gain momentum.

“I am confident that the SARS impact on our economic recovery, though severe, will be temporary," said Mr Tung. He pointed to positive developments like the continued support from and ever stronger economic ties with the Mainland and the weakening US dollar’s beneficial impact on Hong Kong’s exports, re-exports and the cost of doing business.

Mr Tung outlined the plan of action devised to get Hong Kong going again. This includes eradicating any new SARS cases, so that Hong Kong is removed from the WHO list of infected areas; a comprehensive programme to help revitalize the tourism, hotel, airline, restaurant and retail sectors devised by the Economic Relaunch Strategy Group; the “Team Clean" project designed to promote good personal and public hygiene; and improvements to the public health system.

“We must redouble our efforts with ‘outside the box thinking" to improve our town planning to create more open space; to speed up urban renewal; to redevelop and clear up the urban slums and generally to improve the living environment, so that we can truly live up to our name as Asia’s world city," said Mr Tung.

In closing, he said, “If SARS taught us anything, it was that if we stay together, have a clear focus, have confidence in ourselves, and persevere, we can take on any challenges and overcome any adversities, and Hong Kong will emerge stronger, healthier and more successful than ever before."

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