"We are changing the travel advice for Hong Kong effective Friday, 23 May," said Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland, Director-General of the WHO. "I am pleased to note that due to the efforts of the local and national health authorities, with support from WHO and partners, the outbreak in Hong Kong is being contained."

WHO's criteria satisfied

The statement said Hong Kong had satisfied the WHO's criteria for lifting the advisory in the following ways:

• The three-day average number of new cases has remained below five over the last six days and the pattern of the outbreak shows a sustained decline since the peak of new cases in late March.

• The total number of people who are still infectious - all of whom are in hospital - has fallen below 60, although there are other former SARS patients who are still convalescing or being treated for other conditions in hospital. 

• All new cases in the past 20 days have occurred in people who were already identified as contacts of a person with SARS and under active surveillance by the local health authorities. 

• There have been no recent reports of internationally exported cases from Hong Kong.

"We are delighted that WHO has lifted their advisory, and that we can now welcome the world back to Hong Kong," commented Ms. Lily Shum, Director/The Americas, HKTB. "Tour operators, airlines, hotels and our other marketing partners have been busy creating a wealth of exciting offers to tempt travelers with enticing 'hot deals' and special offers especially designed for US travelers."

The Board is now monitoring response to the lifting of the advisory and the travel trends in the Americas, following which further details of the comeback campaign and its implementation schedule will be announced.