Senior officials have paid tribute to Prince of Wales Hospital Ward Attendant Wong Kan-tai who yesterday became the latest healthcare worker to succumb to SARS.

Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa, Secretary for the Civil Service Joseph Wong, Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong, and Director of Health Dr Margaret Chan all expressed sorrow over the death of the worker who had been infected while looking after patients. Each expressed their heartfelt condolences to her family.

"She has displayed the highest level of selfless devotion and will be remembered by the whole community," Mr Tung said.

Mr Wong said: "Ms Wong was a dedicated and committed medical staff member. She has given up her life in the fight against SARS. The Civil Service Bureau will make every effort to help Ms Wong's family to get over this difficult time."

Ms Wong, 53, was one of the three SARS deaths recorded in the last 24 hours, the other two being a man 83 and a woman 69 who both had a history of chronic illness and were in Princess Margaret Hospital. This brought to 281 the total number of deaths relating to SARS.

There were three new confirmed cases today, none involving healthcare workers. The number of patients recovered and discharged from hospital continues to rise to 1,318. Of them, eight were discharged today.

The number of SARS patients in intensive care has dropped to 27. These are part of the 83 cases under treatment in hospitals. Most patients are responding positively to the treatment protocol. Sixty are recovering patients in convalescence preparing for discharge.

There were 487 households, involving 1,240 people, under the home confinement programme.

Deputy Director of Health Dr Leung Pak-yin said SARS security and publicity at checkpoints will be enhanced as more people are starting to cross the boundary again.

"We will issue pamphlets at the boundary telling travellers they need to be in good health in Hong Kong and that they must follow Hong Kong's laws and regulations on personal and environmental hygiene, and they must report any ill health," Dr Leung said.

"We are also issuing advice to Hong Kong people travelling to the Mainland. It is important to remind people that they must not travel if they have a fever or are feeling ill."