The Hong Kong government will spare no effort and no resources in curbing the spreading of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), said Financial Secretary Antony Leung Wednesday.

In addition to the relief package of 11.8 billion HK dollars (1.51 billion US dollars) announced last week, Leung said the government is also thinking about all kinds of measures to revive the economy, which will be launched once the disease is under control.

Leung also expected the deficit in year 2003 to be larger than the original estimate, largely because of the SARS.

But he added it is still too early to tell exactly how large the number will be.

(Xinhua News Agency April 30, 2003)