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Hong Kong will be working 'flat out' over the next six to nine months to restore economic activity to pre-SARS levels and beyond now that the World Health Organization (WHO) has removed Hong Kong from its list of SARS-affected areas, the Financial Secretary, Mr Antony Leung, said today (June 23).
Speaking at the launching ceremony of the Hong Kong Tourism Board's Global Revival Campaign, Mr Leung said, "I very much hope that this milestone today in our battle against SARS signals the beginning of a revival of 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 boost our economy and restore business activity to pre-SARS levels, and beyond."
Mr Leung , who chairs the Economic Relaunch Strategy Group, said the removal of Hong Kong from the WHO list showed that Hong Kong was a safe place to visit and had also entered the 'recovery phase' of its economic relaunch strategy.
He said initial efforts to reassure the international community and restore confidence in Hong Kong as a safe and hygienic destination were beginning to bear fruit with a slow and steady increase in visitor arrivals.
He said this would undoubtedly have a positive impact on the sectors most badly hit by the disease - the retail, catering and hotel industries.
"I can assure you that the government, in conjunction with the Hong Tourism Board, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, District Councils and the private sector will all be working flat out over the next six to nine months to make sure that the recovery firmly takes root and blossoms," he said.
"We will continue to reassure residents and visitors that we are rebounding from adversity.
"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.
"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 level is one of the key goals of our economic recovery strategy."
Mr Leung said the government would also undertake a series of international roadshows and investment promotions to lift Hong Kong's 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.
The Financial Secretary announced two initiatives to help spread the word internationally that Hong Kong was a safe place to visit and remained 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," he said.
"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."
Mr Leung had sent e-mails to consulates, chambers of commerce, investment banks, credit rating agencies and financial institutions to tell them of the good news that Hong Kong had been removed from the WHO list, and ask them to actively participate in this latest international outreach initiative.
A similar e-mail was sent to his Government colleagues so they could appeal to their respective contacts and related trade, professional and community bodies to join the e-mail boilerplate signature and template letter drive.
"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," said Mr Leung.
End/Monday, June 23, 2003
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