There were no new cases of SARS reported in the last 24 hours, marking the second day of zero cases since the outbreak.

A total of 1,343 patients have recovered and been discharged from public hospitals. Of them, four were sent home today.

There was one fatality, bringing the total number of SARS-related deaths to 284. The victim was a 77-year-old woman with a history of chronic illness.

Most of the 73 patients now in hospital are responding positively to the new treatment protocol. Of them, 23 are in intensive care.

Another 48 patients are recovering in convalescence, in preparation for discharge. There are seven suspected cases.

There are 1,254 people from 491 families under home-confinement orders.

Director of Health Dr Margaret Chan hailed the good work of healthcare staff and the public in bringing the number of new cases down to zero. She said the Government's new target is to record no new cases for 20 days.

She said the lifting of the US Centres for Disease Control & Prevention's travel advisory against Hong Kong is more good news "which indicates the high level of confidence they have in Hong Kong controlling the outbreak".

Dr Chan said she expected to find holiday and business travel to Hong Kong to soon return to normal.

"The outbreak has now gone into a new phase. We will try to have zero infections for 20 days. Then we can promote Hong Kong again as the preferred tourist spot in this part of the world."