Four foreign, one Hong Kong and one Taiwan SARS patients in Beijing have been discharged from hospitals upon recovery, a senior local official said in Beijing Tuesday.

Cai Fuchao, director of the publicity department of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) said the four foreign patients are from the United States, Canada, Australia and Kyrgyzstan.

Six foreigners were confirmed SARS patients in Beijing, Cai said. "So far, there is a people from the United States still in hospital for medical treatment and his condition is stable," he said.

Pekka Aro, an official with the International Labor Organization, died of the SARS last month, he said.

Cai said so far there are three suspected SARS cases among overseas people in Beijing.

"Two cases have been ruled out after further diagnoses were made, and one person from India is now receiving medical treatment," Cai said.

(Xinhua News Agency May 6, 2003)