Hong Kong people are working together to overcome our hardships, Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa says, adding that coupled with a clean environment, Hong Kong can win the virus battle.

He made the remark during his visit to Tai Po, where the community carried out cleansing operation in support of the Hong Kong-wide Cleansing Day.

Joining the battle: (From left) Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa, Chief Secretary for Administration Donald Tsang and Financial Secretary Antony Leung visited Tai Po, Central and North Point respectively, and joined the community clean up.

His view was shared by the Chief Secretary for Administration Donald Tsang.  

During his visit to Central this morning, Mr Tsang said he was impressed by the restaurant sector's positive response to Hong Kong-wide Cleansing Day, adding that it was time for the community to show what it can do.

"They know it is important not only to do the clean-up for their own good and preserve Hong Kong as a 'food capital' of the world, it is important for public health as well," Mr Tsang said.

"I am sure it is the defining moment for Hong Kong, making sure that Hong Kong is going through this rebirth, becoming more caring, more hygienically advanced, and able to deal with this crisis more effectively."

Turning to the clean-up campaign, Mr Tsang called on the public to make every effort to keep places clean.

"We must persevere, we must seize every opportunity to maintain the cleanliness of the whole of Hong Kong; not only the restaurants, but also in our own homes, in our own kitchens, in our own living rooms, and in our offices," he said.

He also revealed that the Government was working on relief measures for sectors hard hit by atypical pneumonia, and "we are hoping that we will be able to introduce some to the public sometime next week".

The Hong Kong-wide Cleansing Day was kicked off early this morning, with the Chief Executive, Chief Secretary, Financial Secretary and all bureaux secretaries actively taking part in district functions to arouse public awareness on environmental and personal hygiene.