Hong Kong's Financial Secretary Antony Leung said Monday that Hong Kong's next major challenge was to revitalize its economy and restore business activity.
"I can assure you that the government, in conjunction with the Hong Kong Tourism Board, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, District Councils and the private sector, will all be working flat out over the next six months or so to make sure that the recovery firmly takes root and blossoms," Leung said.
Leung made the remarks at the launching ceremony of a Tourism Revival Campaign on Monday, following the removal of Hong Kong from the World Health Organization's list of areas affected by severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
"It signals the beginning of the recovery phase of our economic relaunch and, I very much hope the revival of our fortunes for our tourism, business travel and convention and exhibition industries in Hong Kong," said Leung.
(Xinhua News Agency June 24, 2003)