As expected, the World Health Organisation earlier today delisted Hong Kong from its list of SARS-infected areas.

However, nobody in the territory is expecting to see an immediate influx of tourists or other visitors, as most have made their travel plans for the remainder of the year.   For example, travelers are only now beginning to return to Vietnam which was the first country in the world to be removed from SARS list on April 28.  The celebratory mood has also been tempered by the experience of Canada which was delisted, only for the virus to return.    Experts have additionally warned that the virus could reappear in Hong Kong this winter.

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