The government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) is considering a number of measures, which will be released soon to tackle the current economic problems caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), the Financial Secretary Antony Leung said Tuesday.
At a news briefing after meeting with members of business chambers at the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, Leung said business and union leaders have proposed a lot of ideas on dealing with the situation.
"They center around a number of areas. Most of which really is reducing the cost of doing business for the business sector because they express the feeling that a number of sectors are very heavily affected by SARS," Leung said, noting the government is considering their suggestions.
The spreading disease has gravely affected Hong Kong's economy and many rating organizations have pared down GDP forecast for most of Asian economies including Hong Kong. Affected by the slowdown pressure, many of Hong Kong's economic sectors appeal for governmental relief steps to support them as they are stagnating in the business ditches.
The government generally agreed to carry out special temporary policy against SARS. Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa and other government officials have been consulting with representatives from various business sectors to initiate emergency relief plan helping ease the financial difficulties.
According to Leung, the government will announce those measures "hopefully in the foreseeable future."
(Xinhua News Agency April 16, 2003)
