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The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Canada) (HKETO) today (June 23, Toronto time) welcomed the decision taken by Health Canada to lift the travel advisory for Hong Kong, following the World Health Organization (WHO) and the CDC of the United States lifting their travel advisories respectively on Hong Kong on May 23 and June 4, and WHO removing Hong Kong from the list of SARS-infected areas today.
The Director of HKETO, Mrs Rosanna Ure, said the move reflects the fact that Hong Kong's measures to contain SARS have achieved the desired results and that Hong Kong is a safe place for Canadians to visit.
"We would like to thank the Canadian government and the Canadian community for their understanding in the course of SARS. Our appreciation must go specially to Health Canada for its support by sending four of its experts to join the WHO team to conduct the Amoy Gardens investigation in Hong Kong last month," Mrs Ure said.
"Despite the resurgence of SARS in Toronto, we believe that the support given by the federal, provincial and city governments in Canada will ensure a speedy containment of the situation and Toronto will resume normal life quickly."
The HKETO Director said the lifting of the travel advisory by Health Canada would help restore the confidence of Canadian travelers and investors in Hong Kong.
"We want to assure the Canadian community that Hong Kong remains vigilant and that stringent measures are in place to safeguard public health and environmental and public hygiene as well as to make our city a safe and healthy place for pleasure and business travelers," Mrs Ure added.
Other than Canada, other countries that have followed WHO recommendation to lift travel restrictions on Hong Kong include Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Portugal, Austria, Singapore, the Philippines, Australia and the United States.
End/Tuesday, June 24, 2003
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