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. On Wednesday, government officials said the advisory might be lifted within three weeks, after which a massive campaign could be launched to improve Hong Kong's image overseas and put the economy back on track. In a hastily arranged press conference yesterday, Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa welcomed the announcement. He said what was needed now was for Hong Kong to be removed from the WHO's list of infected areas. 'What we have achieved has not come easily. It is an effort by all the people of Hong Kong,' Mr Tung said. 'We should treasure what we have achieved and redouble our efforts to make sure that as early as possible our name is removed from the infected area list.' It was not about to happen yesterday, however, as two more fatalities and two new cases took Hong Kong's death toll to 260 from 1,724 infections since March 12. Mainland authorities reported a further three deaths and 20 new infections. Until yesterday, Hong Kong had been unable to satisfy the WHO that it had met all of its conditions for lifting the advisory. Specifically, its number of active cases had not dropped below 60, and the mode of transmission of all infections had not been identified. But Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food Yeoh Eng-kiong, who lobbied for an early removal in Geneva this week, said the government was able to convince the WHO that Hong Kong could indeed fulfil every condition. Although 4 per cent of total cases were still a mystery, all new cases of the past two weeks could be identified, he said. Moreover, the magic number of 60 hospital cases was met after the government reclassified its caseload based on the WHO's definition of patients receiving 'active treatment'. Dr Yeoh said many patients had recovered but had been kept in hospital as a precaution, or to treat previous illnesses. 'It was quite coincidental that we came to have the figure of 59,' he said. WHO head of communicable diseases David Heymann said Hong Kong and Guangdong must still screen outbound airline passengers because of the continuing risk of spreading the infection. 'This outbreak is not over in Hong Kong and Guangdong,' he said, adding that a travel warning could be re-issued if necessary. In Guangdong, officials were also quick to temper initial enthusiasm. After appearing on state television to express his joy at the lifting of the advisory, Guangdong Governor Huang Huahua cautioned that the province must remain vigilant until a 'total victory' was achieved. Other officials seemed to stress that the province had achieved a victory not only against Sars but also against international critics. 'We've struggled against this for so long and they've finally lifted the warning,' Health Department spokesman Feng Shaomin said. 'This shows that our numbers are credible. This is good for the whole country because we have shown them what Guangdong can do.' Leaders on both sides of the border admitted the battle ahead was to get international travellers back. Leading the charge last night in Lan Kwai Fong - beer in hand - was Financial Secretary Antony Leung Kam-chung, who chairs the taskforce to relaunch Hong Kong. 'The first message for the world is that Hong Kong is a safe place and that it will become even safer and cleaner with our efforts,' he said. 'Second, we have to encourage locals to resume a normal life.' Tourism and travel chiefs were similarly enthusiastic. 'This is definitely good news,' Travel Industry Council director Joseph Tung Yao-chung said. 'It's a good sign that things will be back to normal for our industry very soon.' Tourism Board director Selina Chow Liang Shuk-yee was more restrained, saying real celebrations would begin in a few weeks when visitors started to return. 'It was planned not to go into high-profile celebrations right away,' Mrs Chow said. 'Hong Kong needs to go back to normality first and people need to see that.' Latest Advice Temperature checks for travellers at Chek Lap Kok airport and other border checkpoints will continue People should continue to wear masks in crowded areas People should continue to pay attention to personal hygiene More reports - A2, A3, A4 Editorial - A10
