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SCMP

This article was first published on June 24, 2003.
WHO gives the all-clear
by Jimmy Cheung, Chow Chung-yan and Benjamin Wong
Hong Kong is ready to spend $1 billion to rebuild its battered image and lure back tourists and businesses after it was officially declared free of Sars by the World Health Organization yesterday (June 23, 2003).
Officials said the announcement had given the go-ahead for a campaign aimed at promoting Hong Kong as the best place for visitors and business in Asia.
The programmes include a $400 million tourism drive over the next nine months. Free airline tickets, hotel offers and restaurants discounts are up for grabs.

In a statement at 3pm, the WHO’s executive director of communicable diseases, David Heymann, said: “This is very significant achievement. Hong Kong, with its dense population and fluid border with China, had one of the hardest outbreaks to control. This success means that the world can now feel safer from the Sars threat.”
With the passing of 20 days since the last case was put into isolation, the chain of infections was considered broken, the WHO said.
It praised government officials for providing honest information about Sars and pioneering control measures. “It is gratifying that these measures have now brought Hong Kong to the point of victory over the virus, although continued vigilance remains vital,” it said.

There have been 1,755 infections and 296 fatalities, with 23 patients still in hospital.
In Beijing, officials have applied to the WHO to have its travel advisory lifted. It has recorded no new cases in 12 days and the number of patients is now below 50.
Hong Kong marked the end of its three-month battle with non-official celebrations. Students lined up at school to dump their surgical masks into rubbish bags following a countdown to the WHO’s announcement. Shopping malls in Tsim Sha Tsui and Causeway Bay were enlivened with Samba and traditional lion dances.
But officials said it was a day of remembrance and thanksgiving rather than celebration.
Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa marked the occasion by visiting Amoy Gardens.

“Every time I think about those who have passed away or who have sacrificed themselves as a result of Sars, I, like all of us, feel a great deal of sorrow. Perhaps celebration is an inappropriate word,” he said.
Urging the public to remain vigilant, Mr Tung said the government would be prepared for future attacks. “Our name has been removed from the list but from experiences everywhere else, we have to remind ourselves that this could come again,” he said.
He conceded the government had been passive initially in reacting to the outbreak.
“We were passive because we didn’t know much about the virus. We were ignorant at that stage. But we moved from being passive to pro-active; and later taking the lead,” he said.
He sidestepped the question of holding officials responsible, and said a review would be launched to make improvements.

Tourism Board chairwoman Selina Chow Liang Shuk-yee said it would take a year for the number of arrivals to reach pre-Sars levels.
“We hope the number of arrivals can reach one million a month in August and September. It will take time to recover and we are facing stiff competition from other regions that are also desperate to win travellers back,” she said.
In a rare statement, the People’s Liberation Army in Hong Kong said it had written to Mr Tung hailing Hong Kong’s success.
Japan said its travel advisory against Hong Kong would now be lifted.


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Hong Kong

Health & Environment

On this day 23 years ago, the World Health Organization declared the end of Sars in Hong Kong after the epidemic left 299 dead in the city


On this day 23 years ago, the World Health Organization declared the end of Sars in Hong Kong after the epidemic left 299 dead in the city.


Japan

China

Hong Kong Tourism Board

From our archives

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}On this day 23 years ago, the World Health Organization declared the end of Sars in Hong Kong after the epidemic left 299 dead in the city

WHO gives the all-clear

On this day 23 years ago, the World Health Organization declared the end of Sars in Hong Kong after the epidemic left 299 dead in the city