Many stay masked despite lifting of travel advisory

Despite the lifting of the travel advisory, many people say they will not give up their masks until Hong Kong has had no new infections of Sars for at least a week.

Gabe Kaminski, 37, a travel manager, said he would continue wearing a mask in crowded places until he was satisfied Hong Kong was Sars-free.

'I am not sure how much a mask can protect us from infection,' he said.

'Everyone in hospital is wearing one, but some people still come down with Sars. But it is having the piece of mind that you have done something [putting on a mask] to protect yourself,' he said.

The Canadian, who has been living in Hong Kong for seven years, said he wore a mask only in indoor areas but not open spaces, even during the peak of the outbreak. He said he believed the risk was low in the open.

'It is my first time in life wearing a surgical mask and it is not that much fun wearing it,' Mr Kaminski said.

Businessman Rafael, 58, from Malaysia, was wearing a mask on the street in Lan Kwai Fong yesterday.