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The government today (June 12) announced the progress made on the activities and programmes as recommended by the Advisory Committee on the Promotion of the Fighting Spirit against SARS.
The recommendations include the identification of a suitable venue for setting up a memorial site and the planning of a SARS exhibition. The government also announced a "Clean Hong Kong Day" at the end of this month to promote the spirit and values shown by the whole community in the fight against SARS.
The Secretary for Home Affairs, Dr Patrick Ho, who is also the Chairman of the Advisory Committee, said members of the Advisory Committee found that the community had manifested impressive values at personal, interpersonal and community levels.
"At personal level, members of different occupations showed their devotion and professionalism while the public's zest for life and a high sense of civic responsibility were also demonstrated," Dr Ho said.
"At interpersonal level, people showed appreciation, care, compassion, respect as well as support for each other.
"At community level, all Hong Kong residents showed the rationality of co-operation, unity and solidarity as well as harmony," Dr Ho added.
Members of the Advisory Committee suggested setting the last Sunday in June every year as a day for territory-wide activities to promote the values manifested in last year's crisis.
The Government proclaimed a "Clean Hong Kong Day" to be held on June 27 as this year's territory-wide activity. Over 5 000 participants are expected to take part on the day. Apart from government departments, volunteers including members of the District Councils, Area Committees, Rural Committees, village representatives, district hygiene teams, mutual aid committees, owners' corporations, building management companies, cleaning contractors, food premises, market stall operators as well as students will participate.
Dr Ho hoped that the activity would remind people the importance of a hygienic living environment in preventing diseases and the need of public involvement in keeping Hong Kong clean.
The Advisory Committee also suggested the government identify a suitable venue to set up a memorial site to commemorate and promote the values manifested in the SARS crisis. The government has designated a site in Hong Kong Park as the venue for such purpose.
"Any suggestions on the name are welcomed," Dr Ho said.
The government will work with the community on the building of the memorial site. With the professional assistance of the Hong Kong Institute of Architects, the Kowloon Rotary Club will organise an open design competition. The winner's design will be adopted as the theme monument. Memorial bronze statues cast by the New Century Forum to commemorate several medical professionals who sacrificed their lives during the SARS outbreak will be placed in the memorial site.
To follow up on one of the recommendations of the Advisory Committee, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department is now liaising with Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences Society for a SARS exhibition at the museum.
In the past few months, the Government has also been following up on other recommendations made by the Advisory Committee.
Following the announcement by the Chief Executive, the Advisory Committee on the Promotion of the Fighting Spirit against SARS was set up on June 11, 2003 to gather opinions from all sectors of the community with a view to finding a permanent way to commemorate the spirit of Hong Kong demonstrated in the fight against SARS. During the public consultation period, the Advisory Committee organised three public consultation sessions and conducted a survey to gather public views on the subject.
Members of the public may download the report submitted by the Advisory Committee to the Chief Executive from the designated homepage (www.fight-sars.gov.hk).
Ends/Saturday, June 12, 2004
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