The World Health Organisation's issuance of a travel advisory, recommending that people not travel to Hong Kong or Guangdong Province, will not have much more of an impact on Hong Kong than the outbreak itelf, the Chief Executive says.

"Before the announcement of the WHO travel advisory, actually we had already noticed all the cancellations of people who planned visits to Hong Kong," Tung Chee Hwa said, "whether it be in the area of commerce, whether they are coming for a good time, whether they are visiting friends and relatives.

"This is understandable. What WHO has done is merely a confirmation of what has been happening."

Mr Tung emphasised that Hong Kong was working hard to tackle atypical pneumonia and that the Government's actions were transparent.

"In time, very soon, you will see a gradual improvement coming through. The best proof eventually will be in the facts."

Meanwhile, Hong Kong will continue to communicate with WHO officials. "Hopefully, in time they will make changes," Mr Tung said.

While we should be worried about the economy - tourism is down and consumer spending has fallen - his priority now is fighting the illness he said.