A total of 5,000 people from 1,000 local organizations in Hong Kong gathered at the Victoria Park of HK Sunday to take part in the launching ceremony of a city-wide anti-SARS campaign.
Director of the preparatory committee of the campaign Cheng Yiu-Tong, who also serves as the director of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, noted that the gathering was aimed to extend the message that "we should bravely face the adversity resulted from the spread of SARS and strengthen our confidence in the battle against the virus."
The director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong, Kong Gao Siren, said at the gathering that the active participation of the Hongkongers in the campaign was embodiment that they will live up to their due responsibilities.
Gao expressed confidence that Hong Kong, under the leadership of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government, will surely win the battle against SARS.
The 5,000 people present at the gathering practiced physical exercises, which are believed to be beneficial to strengthening people's immune system against the deadly disease of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
Esetella Yum, a nurse from the Prince of Wales Hospital, joined in the gathering to encourage Hong Kong people to face the disease. Yum, who contracted SARS while taking care of SARS patients, had recovered from the disease and continued her work as a front-line medical worker.
The Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, the Hong Kong Federation of Fujian Associations, the Hong Kong Island Federation, the Hong Kong Chinese Enterprises Association, the Federation of Education Workers Hong Kong, the Federation of Hong Kong Guangdong Community Organization, Kowloon Federation of Associations, and New Territories Association of Societies joined hands in sponsoring the campaign.
(Xinhua News Agency May 5, 2003)
