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CE's remarks on atypical pneumonia

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Following is the transcript of the media session by the Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, on the latest situation of atypical pneumonia tonight (April 8):

Good evening. As you know, I have been meeting daily with my colleagues to take stock of the situation brought about by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), both on the control front as well as on the prevention front. Tonight I would like to make a couple of points.

First, I am very concerned obviously about our medical and nursing staff. I note that an increasing number of them have been sick, and we are obviously alarmed about the situation. They have been working flat out to take care of our patients. Their health is obviously our prime concern, and we must really provide a favourable workplace for them. We need to make sure that they're healthy. The Government will mobilise all resources to give them support and to ensure the Hospital Authority will have adequate protective gear and good protection for them and for the staff in every respect. Earlier on, together with EK Yeoh, I had a discussion with the Chairman of the Hospital Authority, Dr CH Leong, about this.

On the other hand, we all know that this SARS has now a profound long-term impact on our economy and it is a very serious matter. I have asked the Financial Secretary to look into the short-term, medium-term as well as long-term implications and to suggest ways to provide relief in the short-term and to ensure recovery of our economy in the medium term and long term. At the moment, the worst-hit sectors are in tourism, in retail trade, in restaurant trade as well as in the entertainment area. We are actively considering a series of measures specifically in reference to these four trades and we will make an announcement as to what we can do, how we can help, in due course, in fact, as soon as we can.

I fully understand the concern of the entire community, the concern of our citizens about the SARS. It is a highly contagious disease, so obviously we are concerned. But we need to look at the other aspect of it. It is not a disease that is transmitted by air. And if treatment can be given early, the disease is itself curable. So let's face the disease sensibly. What we need to do is to constantly take precautions, to pay attention to personal hygiene, as well as environmental hygiene. Let me stress once again that the Government will do our best to prevent and control this disease. We will also adopt proper measures to get the economy going again.

Thank you very much.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion)

End/Tuesday, April 8, 2003

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