Hong Kong’s confidence in itself as a safe place to live, work and play suffered a serious blow with the incursion of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in the middle of March 2003. The whole city retreated into itself and huddled beneath a collective veil of masks. Many expats, especially wives and children, returned to Europe, the US and Australia, and didn’t come back.

The effect on morale was dramatic, but – typically for Hong Kong – temporary.  By the end of 2003, the number of deaths was put at less than 300; compare this figure with the 3,000+ who died from typical pneumonia in 2002. The number of visitors in December exceeded the previous year’s figure and business was back on its feet.More importantly, SARS has acted as a wake-up call to the public at large, scientists, the Hospital Authority and the government, who are now much more alert to the possibility of ‘flu epidemics in the city and how to control the spread of infectious disease in the densely populated urban environment.

The threat of another SARS or avian (bird) ’flu outbreak is being actively managed through public education campaigns exhort people to clean their homes, wash their hands after using the toilet, wear masks if they have colds and open windows to improve air circulation. The message is reinforced by punitive fines for littering and spitting. Improved standards of hygiene in public areas, such as public toilets, have actually made Hong Kong a cleaner city.

Environmental Safety

Typhoons And Rainstorms

Whilst Hong Kong is fortunate not to lie on any earthquake-inducing faults, unlike its near neighbours China, Taiwan and Japan, the territory is battered most summers by occasional typhoons.

There is a sophisticated modus operandi that comes into play when a severe typhoon is spotted approaching: schools, offices, hospitals and public buildings are closed; shops, taxis and restaurants close at their discretion; buses and ferries stop running (although the MTR stays open); and everyone is sent home in good time to batten down the hatches. Whilst typhoons rarely cause fatalities, they can wreak havoc on buildings, structures and parks, causing potentially dangerous situations when scaffolding and windows come loose.

Rainstorms can cause flooding and landslides, which accounts for the ‘spraycreting’ of banks thought to pose a risk. It’s also during a rainstorm you find out whether the ceiling of your bedroom is sound or not. Typhoons and weather warnings are issued by the Hong Kong Observatory ( www.hko.gov.hk ; tel. 2926 8200) and publicized on TV and radio.

• A Black Rain Warning is issued when 100mm or more of rain is predicted to fall within two hours. People are advised to stay indoors. Amber and red signals are less severe, but signify heavy rain and flooding.
• Typhoon Warnings are issued when a typhoon (a severe tropical storm) is approaching. The warnings are graded. Signal 3 means that kindergartens are closed because strong winds are likely; if the warning is signal 8 and above, schools, government offices and most businesses close and people are advised to return home immediately and not go out. Winds can exceed 220 km/hr.

For explanations of other weather warnings, visit www.hko.gov.hk/textonly/explain/intro.htm .

Air Pollution