WHO removes Hong Kong from SARS list

THE World Health Organisation removed Hong Kong from its list of SARS-infected areas yesterday, but warned the territory to keep up its guard against future outbreaks that might put it back on the list.

WHO officials urged Hong Kong to avoid a repeat of what happened in Toronto, where a new outbreak was discovered after Canada's largest city was taken off the WHO's list. Two people died of SARS on Sunday in Toronto.

Hong Kong chief executive Tung Chee-hwa said the territory was "of course happy" about the WHO announcement, but he expressed sadness over nearly 300 deaths from the disease and cautioned, "this could come again."