HK living with fear over illness

HK living with fear over illness

By Sarah Buckley
BBC News Online

As Hong Kong bears the brunt of a mysterious form of severe pneumonia, many people are doing all that they can to protect themselves.

Some have bought surgical masks, others are avoiding public places. Several schools have been told to suspend classes, or have done so voluntarily, as unease about the disease has spread.

I think the Hong Kong Government don't want to scare the public too much... otherwise tourists will not come

Shirley Wong, 38

When the head of Hong Kong's hospitals, Doctor William Ho, was taken to hospital with symptoms of pneumonia on Monday, it can only have intensified public fears.

Shirley Wong, 38, said that she did not think wearing masks was enough.

"I find it quite scary," she told BBC News Online.

"Wearing masks is just a means of protection. I myself get more sleep and am taking more balanced meals," the marketing director for a cosmetics company said.

"The secretary for health said there was no sign that it will be widespread, but the result is that it has already spread to the community.... I think the Hong Kong Government don't want to scare the public too much... otherwise tourists will not come, and there has been an economic depression for some time."

Already, she said, "people are scared not to go to the office in case they are sacked".

School children are encouraged to take precautions

Hong Kong government spokesmen have denied that the illness was creating public hysteria.

"We don't see any great panic in our society... the parents know how to take safety precautions for their children," said Nelson Lui, spokesman for the education bureau.

Joseph Lai, 35, who works in an advertising agency, sounded fairly sanguine.

He said that although he saw many people wearing masks - he thought that on Tuesday, around one in 10 people were using them on Hong Kong's underground - "I'm really not worried because I guess the possibility of (catching SARS) is not very high".

"Most of my friends are not really worried, but more of my family members are worried. Maybe they are scared by the news," he said.

The government's health bureau has issued leaflets to all schools asking children to make sure they observe good hygiene, such as washing their hands and covering their noses when they sneeze.

Even though health officials have said that the disease can only be spread through close personal contact, the health bureau has also advised that rooms are kept well ventilated.

SARS is not only having an effect on public health. It also appears to be denting the earnings of the tourism and service sectors.

The Hong Kong Tourism Board said that although visitor statistics are not yet available for the weeks since SARS struck the territory, "there's no doubt it's having some effect".

Simon Clennell, assistant manager of corporate communications at the HKTB, said that there had been a drop-off in the number of tour groups visiting Hong Kong from the region.

Singapore and Taiwan have specifically advised against travel to Hong Kong. Other governments have cautioned against visiting SARS-affected areas.

Mr Clennell also said that there was a slow-down in long-haul travel, although he noted that as this had already been affected by concerns about the war. "It's difficult to tell what is the impact of war, and what the impact of flu," he said.

People are nervous in crowded places

However, he noted that supporters of the teams taking part in the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament, which starts on Friday, are still coming.

France, Italy and Argentina have pulled out of the tournament because of the health scare, but Mr Clennell said three teams from other countries had been found to replace them.

There is evidence that fears over SARS are affecting the way people in Hong Kong spend their free time, with reports that restaurants and other leisure centres have been hit.

Hong Kong's famous Jumbo Floating Restaurant admitted that it had suffered "a little bit decrease of income" as the public sought to avoid crowded places.

But not everybody is suffering. Cleaning companies and businesses that specialise in disinfecting air conditioning systems are reported to be doing brisk business.