The lifting of the travel advisory notice by the WHO marked an important turning point in dealing with the local outbreak of Sars. The virus has been largely contained in Hong Kong, and it is high time for us to explore ideas on relaunching the economy.

The government announced an $11.8 billion relief package in late April, including tax rebates, rent cuts and a loan scheme to help industries hardest hit by Sars. Although a good move, more effort needs to be made to woo tourists back as well as to encourage local consumption.

We hope that tourists all over the world are aware that the ban has been lifted and will come back in due course. Putting ourselves in their shoes, however, it is only normal to be more cautious before hopping on a plane. And it must not be forgotten that the travel advisory notice issued by the U.S. Center of Disease Control (CDC) still remains in place.

The determining factor in reviving tourism, therefore, is when there are no more Sars cases. The next target is to remove Hong Kong from the WHO's list of infected areas, as well as setting up a cross-border system of surveillance with nearby provinces.

It takes time for overseas tourists to regain their confidence in Hong Kong, but we can smooth the process along the way.

At the top of the priority list is the need to tell the world, by launching marketing campaigns overseas, that Hong Kong is safer and more hygienic than ever before: that this city is resolved to clean up and fight against epidemics. In addition, we can organise large-scale events to strengthen international recognition of Hong Kong.

In this regard, the latest government proposals for cleaning up the city should be welcomed, even if they are long overdue. Raising the fixed fines for spitting and littering from $600 to $1,500, adopting a tougher approach in enforcing laws, and stepping up disinfection and cleaning of common areas are all key measures toward creating a cleaner city.

Hong Kong's air pollution and public hygiene standards are notorious. The government has launched several clean-up campaigns in past decades, but the results were never satisfactory. The surest way to break old, bad habits, is to adopt a zero-tolerance approach in prosecuting litterers as well as introducing other stringent measures to raise the level of environmental awareness and social responsibility among the public.

This is a matter of great urgency. The Sars epidemic has been a major setback to the city's world class status. The community should build on the strong community spirit we showed during the outbreak, and use it now to foster a sustainable environment.

Actions speak louder than words. Of the $1 billion the government plans to spend on promotional campaigns, a portion should be spent on providing incentives for inbound tourists. While visitors may not consider it a big factor when planning their trips, it is a way to show our appreciation.

The government and the community must stand together to bail the city out in the immediate future by an increase in local consumption. Some Hong Kong firms desperate to see clients returning, otherwise they will not be able to hold out much longer.

The business community has organised a series of successful campaigns in order to boost the economy. The idea is to offer incentives for people to spend more so as to get cash in circulation, creating a snowball effect. Consumers are offered discounted air tickets, retailers and travel agencies are noticing an increase in transactions, and while these opportunities are available, everyone should end up happy with the bargains on offer.

More resources are needed if concessionary offers are to be continued, and it would be a good idea if the government could join forces, to play a leading role and keep the momentum going.

Just as Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York, calmly dealt with the September 11th incident and its aftermath, the government of Hong Kong needs to demonstrate its leadership in times of difficulty.

The people of Hong Kong have shown warm hearts and generosity during the outbreak. Many made donations to help those directly affected by Sars. But we should bear in mind that the crisis is not over yet, and now it is time to help each other by spending our way out of trouble.

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