A report by Singapore's English language newspaper, The Straits Times, says foreign businessmen are trickling back to China as the SARS epidemic eases.

A clear indication of this is the slight increase in room occupancy at major business hotels in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

The Beijing Hilton Hotel saw occupancy go up from a low of 10 per cent in April to about 15 per cent late last month, although this is still a far cry from the usual 70 to 80 per cent during this time of the year.

Most of the guests were from Europe and the United States, and had made reservations earlier, an indication that businessmen were sticking to travel plans now that the SARS outbreak was easing

(CRI. June 3, 2003)