Travel tip: Secretary for Food & Health Dr York Chow says Hong Kong people can continue travelling as usual but should boost vigilance against H1N1.

Hong Kong people can continue travelling as usual but should boost vigilance against the H1N1 Influenza A virus, Secretary for Food & Health Dr York Chow says, adding the Government will work with the Tourism Board to boost tourist confidence in the city.

Speaking after meeting the tourism sector today Dr Chow said the industry has suffered since the human swine flu broke out and a case was discovered in Hong Kong.

"With the recent knowledge of the virus and despite widespread infections in more than 40 countries, most of the cases are still relatively mild and treatable. So we think travel activities should continue as normal."

Urging people with chronic illnesses to think carefully before they travel, he reminded people to pay attention to personal hygiene while abroad.

On Taiwan's first confirmed case, Dr Chow said the Australian patient arrived in Hong Kong before transiting to Taiwan. About 60 passengers sat in the nearest seven rows to the man and more than half have left Hong Kong. Seventeen of the remainder have been identified and 12 are under close medical surveillance.

In the 24 hours to noon today 35 people were required to undergo tests for the virus. Four tested negative while laboratory results on the remaining 31 are pending.