Ticket to ride: Seth G. Blaylock (centre) receives his round-trip  ticket from Cathay Pacific's Frederick Ruggiero and Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office Director, New York, Sarah Wu.

The SARS outbreak has done little to hinder the enthusiasm of a young American law student wanting to better his career in Hong Kong.

Seth G. Blaylock, a second-year New York University student, will start his 10-week internship with the Department of Justice on May 22.

The Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in New York secured the internship for him, and its Director Sarah Wu said Hong Kong's excellent public healthcare system minimised the SARS risk to visitors.

"We strongly believe the preventive measures now in place are working well and there is a reasonably high likelihood that this outbreak can be brought under control in Hong Kong," she said.

Mr Blaylock who specialises in public international law, is studying up on corruption issues in East and Southeast Asia.

In Hong Kong, he will study the Department of Justice's Prosecutions Division and its role in fighting corruption and other crime. He is also looking forward to learning more about Hong Kong and its unique system of law, especially in the area of combating corruption.

He said he is thrilled to have the opportunity to live in Hong Kong and work with legal officers from several different divisions. He is also keen to explore Hong Kong, a city renowned for its vibrancy and diversity.

And this will not be his first time to the region either. He was a legal intern with a non-profit international organisation in Manila last summer.

Ms Wu offered thanks to Cathay Pacific for sponsoring the trip, and to the department for arranging the internship.

Hong Kong is rated as one of the least corrupt places in the region and around the world. Berlin-based Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index rated Hong Kong the 14th least corrupt place among 102 nations and territories in 2002.