Press Release - April 6, 2003

The Central Government attaches great importance to the atypical pneumonia outbreaks in Hong Kong and Taiwan, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said.

During his visit to the Chinese Centre for Disease Control & Prevention in Beijing today, Mr Wen said the Central Government is willing to work closely with Hong Kong and Taiwan to prevent and control the disease.

He said it will also co-operate with the world to beat atypical pneumonia.

Public health is the major concern of the Government, Mr Wen stressed, adding that it has the ability to contain the spread of the disease.

For updated information and latest news on respiratory tract infections, please visit the special home page on the subject at www.info.gov.hk/info/infection-e.htm, and the HKSAR Department of Health website at www.info.gov.hk/dh/ap.htm as well as the e-bulletin at www.news.gov.hk/en/index.shtml.