Hong Kong declared free of Sars, after more than 100 days of fears and tears - from the SCMP archive
- June 23, 2003 - With the passing of 20 days since the last case was put into isolation, the chain of infections was considered broken, the WHO said
- The articles below represent part of the Post’s contemporary coverage of the milestone
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 Organisation yesterday.
Officials said the announcement was the trigger 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.