TDC Chairman calls for lifting of WHO travel advisory to Hong Kong

In a letter sent to 400,000 business contacts, TDC Chairman, Peter Woo, called the lifting of the World Health Organisation travel advisory the “green light” for people to return to Hong Kong.
“It means business activities between Hong Kong and the world can normalise. It's the green light to come to Hong Kong for trade fairs and other international business events and for people around the world to meet with visitors from Hong Kong,” he said.
WHO lifted its travel advisory on Hong Kong and Guangdong on 23 May, saying the situation had improved significantly in both areas.
The Government welcomed the news, saying it was the right time for Hong Kong. Chief Executive, Tung Chee-wha praised the efforts of the Hong Kong community in containing the virus and stressed that the health screening measures would continue.
“What we have achieved has not been easy and has been the result of enormous efforts by all the citizens of Hong Kong. However, we need to continue these efforts with the aim of eventually having no new Sars cases,” said Mr Tung.
Mr Woo said businesses around the world had been waiting for the advisory to be lifted. “They are eager to place orders ahead of the busy Christmas season and meet with their Hong Kong business partners,” he said.
The Chairman said there were ample opportunities for overseas businesses with more than 40 major international trade fairs and business events in Hong Kong between now and the end of October, couple with unbeatable travel discounts.
InvestHK's Director General Mike Rowse echoed the feelings of Hong Kong's international business community when he said in a letter, “the decision to remove the travel advisory opens the way to a return to business as usual in the Greater Pearl River Delta.” He also welcomed positive news from the Chinese mainland that Sars was coming under control.
Mr Rowse said many of Hong Kong's advantages have been highlighted by the way it handled Sars. "These include transparency in the dissemination and flow of information, the establishment of even higher standards of hygiene thoughout the city, top quality health professionals and facilities, the vibrancy and independence of the media and the community spirit demonstrated by the people of Hong Kong.
These advantages alongside Hong Kong's core strengths, “will continue to make our city the preferred location for international business serving the Asia Pacific region,” he said.

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June 2003