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The following is the statement given by the Financial Secretary, Mr Antony Leung, on the removal of Hong Kong from the World Health Organisation's list of SARS-Affected Areas at the launching ceremony of a Tourism Revival Campaign this afternoon (June 23):
Ladies and gentlemen,
Today is a day of thanksgiving, remembrance and looking ahead.
Today the World Health Organization (WHO) has removed Hong Kong from its list of SARS-affected areas.
This is the goal that the entire Hong Kong community has worked together with compassion and drive to achieve since the outbreak of the disease. It demonstrates to the whole world, once again, that Hong Kong is a safe city to work, to live and to visit.
The removal of Hong Kong from the WHO list is a testament to the dedication and selfless service of our medical professionals, and the common sense, patience and unity of the entire community.
I would like to offer my sincerest thanks to everyone in Hong Kong for playing their part to stop the spread of SARS. I especially offer my heartfelt condolences to those families who lost loved ones, and to our courageous medical professionals who died while helping others to survive. To those still stricken with illness, my wishes for a full and speedy recovery.
We have learned valuable lessons from this experience. In this time of remembrance, we must never forget the sacrifices that have been made, nor the trials we have endured. That is why we remain ever vigilant to contain the disease and ensure that public health is protected.
As Asia's world city, we take our international responsibilities very seriously and that is why we will continue to put in place screening measures to minimise the chances of exporting the disease, and treating quickly and effectively any cases that may be imported into Hong Kong.
This milestone today in our battle against SARS provides us with an opportunity to look ahead. It signals the beginning of the recovery phase of our economic relaunch and, I very much hope, the revival of our fortunes for our tourism, business travel and convention and exhibition industries in Hong Kong.
Now that we have been taken off the list of SARS-affected areas, there is no doubt that our next major challenge is to revitalize our economy and restore business activity to pre-SARS levels, and beyond.
I would like to thank the members of the Economic Relaunch Strategy Group and travel industry leaders gathered here today who have worked extremely hard to help us develop a coherent and meaningful economic relaunch programme.
Our relaunch strategy, as devised by the Economic Relaunch Strategy Group, is firmly focused. It aims to:
* Restore local and international confidence in Hong Kong
* Promote business and local consumption, and
* Attract international business
Our initial efforts and hard work over the past few weeks are beginning to bear fruit, with a steady increase in visitor arrivals. This will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the sectors most badly hit - the retail, catering and hotel industries.
I can assure you that the government, in conjunction with the Hong Kong Tourism Board, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, District Councils and the private sector will all be working flat out over the next six months or so to make sure that the recovery firmly takes root and blossoms.
Firstly, we will continue to reassure residents and visitors that we are rebounding from adversity. We will actively engage the media, tourism and business investment sectors, and bring them here if necessary, to show them that Hong Kong is a safe, hygienic and above all, vibrant city. Our Economic and Trade Offices will continue to provide overseas governments with all of the latest factual information, and will lobby for the lifting of any remaining travel advisories. We will enhance government-to-government co-operation through various channels, including the Bo'ao Tourism Forum in July, and an international health conference in Hong Kong at the end of the year.
Secondly, the government is supporting an aggressive series of activities over the next six months that will bolster our attraction as a tourism destination, as well as stimulate spending in the local economy by visitors and residents alike. In a few minutes the HKTB will unveil its plans to put Hong Kong firmly back on the tourist and business travel map. We all know that the tourism industry is one of our most important economic drivers, so ensuring that the tourism and related industries return to pre-SARS levels is one of the key goals of our economic relaunch strategy.
Other than tourism initiatives, we've got a whole range of mega events coming up. It is going to be an extremely busy and entertaining time in Hong Kong from now on.
Thirdly, we will undertake a series of international roadshows and investment promotions that will lift our profile as the best place in Asia to live and do business, and as the most strategic two-way platform for engaging the massive Mainland market. Conventions, exhibitions and trade fairs, as well as high-profile business forums such as the Forbes Global CEO Conference will also create international exposure and lift our global image.
As we have now moved from the reassurance phase to the recovery phase of our re-launch strategy, the government will continue to work hand-in-hand with business and the community to promote our unique strengths and advantages as Asia's world city. In this regard, I would like to appeal to the private sector, indeed all of you here today, to join us in two initiatives to spread the message internationally that Hong Kong remains the best place in Asia to visit and do business.
We have devised an e-mail boilerplate signature and a template letter for businesses, chambers of commerce and other business-related organisations to use in their daily correspondence with their overseas contacts. Both are easy to incorporate in e-mails and letters and will help to widely promote our recovery messages. You can get the details by logging onto our recovery website www.HKLookingAhead.gov.hk.
Today I will start the ball rolling by sending out e-mails to chambers of commerce, credit rating agencies, financial institutions and consulates to tell them of the good news, and ask them to actively participate in this latest of our international outreach initiatives.
A similar e-mail will also be sent to my Government colleagues so that they could also appeal to their respective contacts and related trade, professional and community bodies to join the e-mail boilerplate signature and template letter drive.
Ladies and gentlemen, Hong Kong people have proven time and again that they can stare adversity in the face and emerge stronger, smarter and more resilient than ever. The battle against SARS has focused our attention and energies and brought us closer together as a community.
We have a tough but exciting road ahead of us over the next six months, but the resilience and determination shown by all sectors of the community in battling SARS gives me tremendous faith that we can and will achieve our goals.
Thank you very much.
End/Monday, June 23, 2003
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