Australians have been assured that Hong Kong is doing all it can to fight the virus causing the atypical pneumonia outbreak.

Director of the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in Australia Jenny Wallis said in Sydney today that tackling the illness is the Hong Kong Government's top priority.

Speaking at a reception hosted by the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Mrs Wallis assured the gathering of about 250 key business leaders that all of the resources of our Government, universities and health and medical professions are working around the clock to combat the infection.

"We are not in this fight alone. The most eminent experts in this field from many parts of the globe, including Australia, have joined forces to contain the spread," she said.

"Our own specialists in Hong Kong have already identified the source of the virus, earning them congratulations and praise from the World Health Organisation. They have also developed a treatment regime involving an anti-viral drug and steroids which have already proven to have a high success rate."

Mrs Wallis said 95% of Hong Kong's virus patients can expect a full recovery, adding that in terms of Hong Kong's population 99.99% of people have not been affected here.

"If the precautionary, preventive and educational measures we have adopted work - and so far they seem to be working - we have a good chance of containing the spread of that infection."

Mrs Wallis also updated the gathering on Hong Kong's latest developments and why our companies and entrepreneurs are well placed to do business on the Mainland and to help overseas businesses with their China activities.