The government of Macao has no intention of lowering the forecast of economic growth this year, but is closely watching the effect of SARS on the local economy, said a senior official Thursday.

Secretary for Economy and Finance Francis Tam said at the Western Guangdong Famous Products Fair, which opened Thursday in Macao, that the government has been following the impact on individual industry so as to take adequate actions and even to provide assistance when necessary.

He admitted that the fair has been affected by the situation since less people than expected visited, but its significance as the first step to bring closer the cooperation between Macao and Western Guangdong, an area on China's mainland adjacent to Macao, would remain intact.

The fair jointly held by Macao and nine cities in western Guangdong set up 320 booths to promote famous brand products generated by producers in neighboring Guangdong province.

Tam said that the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) had taken its toll on the regional economy, and the government was closely watching and assessing the possible effects on the local economy. Tourism has been the worst hit with fewer tourist arrivals.

Tam said that the situation would inevitably exert an effect on the economy, yet at this point it is not necessary to reassess this year's annual growth since the performance in the first quarter had been robust and the original assessment of a 4 percent growth rate had been a cautious one.

(Xinhua News Agency April 18, 2003)