Indonesian visitors to HK drops by 89 percent

Indonesian visitors to HK drops by 89 percent

JAKARTA: The number of Indonesian visitors to Hong Kong has
declined by 89 percent due to the Severe Acute Respiratory
Syndrome (SARS) outbreak.

"There were 10,200 Indonesians who visited Hong Kong in March
but the number sharply dropped to 2,022 people in April," Hong
Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) regional director for South and South
East Asia David Leung told the media on Thursday.

HKTB report said that 18,250 Indonesians made a visit to Hong
Kong in April of 2002.

The Hong Kong government is now allocating HK$417 million
(US$53.46 million) to promote tourism and stimulate local
consumption.

The World Health Organization (WHO) lifted its travel advisory
against Hong Kong on May 23 while the U.S.-based Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also downgraded its traveler
notification for Hong Kong from travel advisory to travel alert.

According to the WHO report on June 18, 1,755 SARS-probable
cases were reported in Hong Kong with 295 fatalities. The global
data shows 8,465 cases with the number of deaths at 801. -- JP

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NU-Surabaya-protest
NU Youth Congress held in Surabaya
JP/4/4scen20b

NU Youth Congress held in Surabaya

SURABAYA: The 13th Nahdlatul Ulama Youths Association (IPPNU)
Congress was officially opened by Vice President Hamzah Haz at
the Haj boarding school in Surabaya on Thursday. It will last
until Sunday.

Minister of Religious Affairs Said Agiel al-Munawar, the
chairman of NU Hasyim Muzadi as well as the governor of East Java
Imam Utomo also attended the opening.

In his speech, Hamzah spoke about natural resource ownership
in the country.

Hasyim urged the youths to focus on getting a better education
instead of getting involved in politics.

The ceremony was disrupted when photographers and cameramen
staged a protest after being banned from taking pictures.

During the congress, delegates will elect IPPNU's new
chairperson. -- JP