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The Secretary for Education and Manpower, Professor Arthur K C Li, welcomes the announcement by the University of California (UC), Berkeley to lift the restriction on enrolment for some of its summer session classes for students from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)-affected areas, including Hong Kong.
"We welcome the latest decision by UC Berkeley. We are glad that through our communication, involving our Economic and Trade Offices in Washington and San Francisco, with the relevant authorities of the United States and the University administration itself, the University has now modified its policy," said Professor Li.
"We are aware that the University had been concerned about having students from SARS-affected areas developing SARS symptoms while on campus and its ability to cope. It is really totally unnecessary and inappropriate to bar students from Hong Kong."
"We in Hong Kong will continue with our combat against the SARS epidemic, including performing health checks at our borders. We understand that the World Health Organisation is satisfied that there has been no further 'export' of cases to other countries from Hong Kong. We will remain vigilant and are grateful to the international community for their support and appreciation of the latest situation in Hong Kong."
"And we sincerely hope that any outstanding restrictions that UC Berkeley is reviewing will be removed as soon as possible," he added.
End/Sunday, May 11, 2003
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