The British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong has thrown its support behind Hong Kong's fight in the economic recovery from SARS.

The chamber has launched a campaign geared at correcting some of the 'alarmist' reporting of the severe acute respiratory syndrome in the United Kingdom media. In a business brief sent to leading UK business organisations, the message is "Continue backing Hong Kong!".

Brigadier Christopher Hammerbeck, the chamber's Executive Director, said: "It is vital to start correcting the misapprehensions now. There are many highly exaggerated rumours flying around in the UK - and some very distorted and sensationalist views of what SARS is or isn't."

He added: "As it is likely that the WHO will reconsider its travel advisory in the very near future, we must peruade business in the UK that Hong Kong is still a very safe, very desirable place to do business in."

British companies employ 400,000 people in Hong Kong and represent one of the largest foreign investments here, currently running at about 5 billion pounds sterling (approximately HK$63 billion).

The chamber's brief outlines the medical facts about SARS, including:

* that the illness appears to be hard to catch;

* that it has affected only .04% of the Hong Kong population;

* that medical experts say the virus is unlikely to be highly contagious before symptoms develop;

* that almost all those who have died from the disease were in old age or had serious illnesses that compromised their immunity; and

* that "typical" pneumonia affects 12 out of every 1,000 people in the northern hemisphere every year and has a mortality rate of 13.8%.

The brief notes: "The relatively low mortality linked with SARS is in part due to the great expertise of the intensive care specialists in Hong Kong. In communities without this capability, it is possible that the mortality would be higher."

It notes, too, that:

* Hong Kong has an excellent public healthcare system;

* The population in Hong Kong is informed and generally compliant to health measures;

*  The public health measures now in force are appropriate;

* The risk of infection is very small at the moment;

* There is reasonably high likelihood that this outbreak can be brought under control in Hong Kong; and

* In the long term, it is control of the situation in China that will determine the sprad of this illness both in Hong Kong and the rest of the world.

The brief answers some common questions about what SARS means for business, and lays some myths to rest. For example, it notes that there is "no indication of any risk associated with merchandise coming from the affected areas."

For further information, contact the British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong at 2824 2211, or email cjah@britcham.com.