Hong Kong declared Sars-free by WHO, plans $1 billion image rebuild
Quick Look
- Hong Kong was declared Sars-free by the WHO on June 23, 2003, prompting a $1 billion plan to revive its image and attract tourists and businesses.
- The initiative includes a $400 million tourism drive with free tickets and discounts.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Hong Kong was officially declared free of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars) by the World Health Organization on June 23, 2003, after a difficult outbreak.
This article was first published on June 24, 2003.
WHO gives the all-clear
by Jimmy Cheung, Chow Chung-yan and Benjamin Wong
Hong Kong is ready to spend $1 billion to rebuild its battered image and lure back tourists and businesses after it was officially declared free of Sars by the World Health Organization yesterday (June 23, 2003).
Officials said the announcement had given the go-ahead for a campaign aimed at promoting Hong Kong as the best place for visitors and business in Asia.
The programmes include a $400 million tourism drive over the next nine months. Free airline tickets, hotel offers and restaurants discounts are up for grabs.
In a statement at 3pm, the WHO’s executive director of communicable diseases, David Heymann, said: “This is very significant achievement. Hong Kong, with its dense population and fluid border with China, had one of the hardest outbreaks to control. This success means that the world can now feel safer from the Sars threat.”
Open Questions
- Will the rebuilding efforts be successful in luring back tourists and businesses?
- What are the specific details of the $1 billion rebuilding plan beyond the tourism drive?
