Hong Kong and Guangdong celebrate as the WHO lifts its travel advisory
The international travel advisory against Hong Kong and Guangdong was lifted earlier than expected by the World Health Organisation yesterday, sparking jubilation across the Pearl River Delta.
But the WHO quickly warned that the Sars outbreak was not yet over, adding that its travel warning might be issued again if the situation worsens.
In a statement issued in Geneva, outgoing WHO director-general Gro Harlem Brundtland announced: 'I am pleased to note that due to the efforts of the local and national health authorities, with support from the WHO, the outbreaks in Guangdong and in Hong Kong are being contained.'
WHO travel advisories remain in place against Beijing, Hebei and Shanxi provinces, Tianjin municipality, Inner Mongolia and Taiwan.
The decision to remove the travel advisory, issued on April 2, was greeted across Hong Kong with relief - and surprise.