First-hand look: Carrie Yau inspects cleansing work at Fu Cheong Estate.

Hong Kong's immunisation policy will be reviewed to see whether the elderly with financial difficulties should be offered free immunisation against influenza.

In response to media enquiries, the Health, Welfare & Food Bureau said the Government will seek the views of the Advisory Committee on Immunisation in reviewing the policy.

The existing immunisation programme against flu aims to reduce the infection rate of the three most vulnerable groups: residents in elderly homes, the mentally and physically disabled in rehabilitation homes and healthcare workers.

Multi-pronged fight set to prevent SARS

Meanwhile, Government bodies are liaising with various trades and sectors to prevent a SARS resurgence.

Speaking after her visit to Fu Cheong Estate, Sham Shui Po today, Permanent Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Carrie Yau said the Tourism Commission has contacted major organisations in the trade reminding them of the importance of hygiene, cleanliness and prompt reporting of suspected cases.

The commission also asked them to draw members' attention to the importance of diligently implementing all preventive measures, such as cleaning coaches frequently and reminding tourists to practise good personal hygiene.

The Food & Environmental Hygiene Department has sent notices to all 18,000 licensees of food premises including restaurants and food processing workshops reminding them to continue good hygiene practices, such as covering all ready-to-eat food, providing communal chopsticks and implementing effective pest control measures.

Other measures include:

* The Social Welfare Department is reminding welfare institutions to adhere diligently to preventive measures;

* The Labour Department is reminding employers to keep workplaces clean and hygienic and to grant sick leave to any ill staff;

* The Transport Department is reminding public transport operators to continue frequent cleansing of compartments of their vehicles and vessels; and,

* The Home Affairs Department is advising property management companies to step up cleansing and disinfection of buildings' common areas.

Although the Singapore SARS case is isolated, it is a wake-up call to remind us of the need to sustain personal and environmental hygiene, Mrs Yau said.

"We need to take a multi-pronged approach to tackle this problem. We need to continue with our vigilance as there is a possibility that SARS will come back in winter."

Community effort will be needed in improving personal and environmental hygiene while the Government will also gear up its hardware and software to prepare for the outbreak of any communicable disease, Mrs Yau added.