Most universities and colleges in Hong Kong resumed classes Monday with the adoption of a series of stringent measures to combat Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

Except Hong Kong Polytechnic University, which will resume classes on April 21, seven of Hong Kong's universities and colleges have resumed classes, according to a local radio report Monday.

The report said the tertiary institutes has generally required their teachers and students to put on a protective masks and wash their hands frequently to prevent the spread of SARS.

Ling Nan University has prepared more than 10,000 masks to be given out free to the staff and students, while the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has sent e-mails to all students, stipulating that students not wearing masks are not allowed to board the school buses on campus, enter a lecture room or use the library, it said.

The CUHK has also warned students against sitting too close to each other during classes or lectures and shaking hands and reminded students that lecture hall and classroom doors be open all the time to improve ventilation, it said.

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is encouraging more online teaching instead of traditional classes to reduce contact, while the Baptist University has split up the traditional lectures involving more than 200 students into smaller tuition classes, it said.

Meanwhile, the CUHK has promptly produced and launched an educational video Monday for all primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong to take correct measures to guard against the disease in the school environment.

The video entitled "Public Health Campaign for Schools - Fighting SARS Together" was produced urgently to instruct both teachers and students alike to adopt the appropriate measures, such as how to wear a mask properly and taking heed of symptoms of illnesses.

Speaking at a news conference Monday, Albert Lee, director of the Center For Health Education and Health Promotion of the CUHK said such a video is vital as average school generally involve congregating more than 1,000 students, and so the importance of taking of preventative measures on all fronts could not be emphasized enough.

And Kenneth Young, pro-vice-chancellor of the CUHK stressed when launching the video, "The CUHK, right at the start of the outbreak of SARS, was on the front-line of the battle against the disease, and has successfully cured SARS patients.

"The CUHK believes that based on the first-hand experience and professional medical knowledge, we can provide effective preventative measures for primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong," Young said.

Other areas the video covers include cleaning the school, monitoring any illnesses and socializing.

(Xinhua News Agency April 14, 2003)