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Following is the transcript (English portion) of the question and answer of a media session about atypical pneumonia held by the Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, tonight (April 2) at the Central Government Offices (Main Wing) lobby:
Reporter: What is your reaction to the WHO's travel alert?
CE: Before the announcement of the WHO travel advisory, we had actually noticed all the cancellations of people who had planned visits to Hong Kong - whether in the area of commerce, whether they were coming for a good time, or to visit friends and relatives. And this is understandable. What WHO has done is merely a confirmation of what has been happening. What I do want to emphasise is that we are working very hard, and the important thing is for us to continue in the direction we are continuing in, as we have every confidence in the way we are tackling the issue, which is very transparent for everyone to see. In time, very soon you will see a gradual improvement coming through. And the best proof eventually will be in the facts. In the meantime, of course, we will be communicating with WHO in areas where they need to understand better what we are doing, and we will be working very hard with them in presenting the facts and figures, and hopefully in time they will make changes.
Reporter: Please repeat you answer on the economy in English.
CE: The question was whether we should be worried about the economy and I was saying, of course we should be worried about the economy. Tourism is down, it has been very important to us over the past two quarters to sustain our growth, consumer spending is down for understandable reasons. Obviously we are concerned. The Financial Secretary and others are really looking at this thing carefully to see what needs to be done. But let me emphasise - my priority at this very moment is about Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. We need to win that battle, and we will. Thank you very much.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion)
End/Wednesday, April 2, 2003
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