Hong Kong's Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology Henry Tang's earlier made assertive remarks at the Legislative Council recently that Hong Kong would not easily give up in the battle to win businesses even in the midst of the battle against severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Hong Kong is finally seeing a new dawn, as both the World Health Organization (WHO) andthe CDC have doubly restored confidence for the international community and travelers to resume their normal contact with Hong Kong.

It is true that the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (TDC) has recently revised Hong Kong's export growth rate down to 3.3 percent from the original 4 percent, but rebound is forecast to bein the final quarter of this year.

But still, how soon a stronger rebound can be achieved is really a matter the international business community can help in deciding, as TDC Chief Economist Edward Leung has said, "Resumption of traveling by overseas buyers, coupled with the renewed marketing efforts of Hong Kong suppliers, should bode wellfor Hong Kong's exports."

The fallouts of the SARS outbreak, albeit detrimental, could have been worse. But thanks to the foreign business communities here, who have all along been supporting Hong Kong and pledging their unceasing commitment.

The British Chamber of Commerce and the Australian Chamber of Commerce have been so kind as to reassure the Hong Kong business community recently that ever since the cancellation of the WHO travel advisory on May 23, British and Australian businessmen are gradually returning to Hong Kong within a short period to resume their long established businesses.

Chairman of the Australian Chamber of Commerce Alan Johnson's remarks made on a public occasion recently were particularly encouraging. He said he has every confidence that Hong Kong will continue to be a major international financial center.

Johnson said many Australian businesses have been here for decades long, and have weathered periodic difficulties throughout.And perhaps one reason for the Australian companies to have chosenHong Kong is, as he said, Hong Kong possesses business professionals who are "highly flexible and adaptable."

From the point of view of the business environment, he highlighted the fact that Hong Kong continues to enjoy freedom of speech and possesses a well-established economic system. He said that with China's entry into the World Trade Organization, he believes Hong Kong will succeed in exploring new opportunities by becoming a platform via which overseas businessmen conduct their businesses with the Chinese mainland.

"Although SARS has caused some losses to certain Australian firms, but like certain firms, they have been in Hong Kong for more than 30 years, they won't easily give up and pull out just because the temporal SARS outbreak," he said.

John Pilbeam, acting Australian consul-general in Hong Kong, has even openly called on the Australian businesses to continue grabbing opportunities here.

While overseas businesses have been so supportive of the Hong Kong economy, the Hong Kong government is working hard to re-launch the Hong Kong economy, while citizens are encouraged to return to the normal level of consumption and lifestyle.

Hong Kong's Financial Secretary Antony Leung has successfully applied to the Legislative Council here for one billion Hong Kong dollars (128.2 million US dollars) for his plan to relaunch the economy and rebuild public confidence. Such a plan includes launching a series of promotion activities and the screening of TVcommercials to heighten Hong Kong's image and tourist confidence, as well as informing overseas markets about concessionary travel packages on offer through printed materials.

To tell the world that Hong Kong is a business hub for both overseas and mainland companies in the next five years, the council has just approved an additional 200 million Hong Kong dollars (256,410.3 US dollars) to this end.

But for now, just as Hong Kong's Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa said Thursday, with the CDC's and WHO's recognition of Hong Kong'ssuccess in containing SARS, "we (Hong Kong people) must continue to be vigilant in our recovery efforts. We remain committed to combating the virus and safeguarding the public's health while making Hong Kong a favored international destination."

(Xinhua News Agency June 6, 2003)