Half price Tuesday for Shanghai tourists

Tourists pose for photographson
May 3on the 259-meter-high transparent walkway in the Oriental Pearl
TV Tower, one of the most popular destinations for tourists during the May
Day holiday, when Shanghai attracted more than 2.45 million tourists,
about 20,000 more than last year, according to the Shanghai Tourism
Administration.(Photo Source: Shanghai Daily/ Zhang Ming)
Photo Gallery

BEIJING, May 6 -- Ten more tourist attractions will
offer a 50 percent discount on admission prices on Tuesdays from May 5, 2009,
the Shanghai tourism authority said.

The Shanghai Ocean Aquarium, Zhujiajiao Ancient Town,
Oriental Land in Qingpu District and Fengjing Ancient Town in Jinshan District
are among the "half price Tuesday" scenic spots, Labor Daily reported.

The tourism authority has listed 18 tourist
attractions, including the Oriental Pearl Tower, the World Financial Center and
Jinmao Tower, in the discount scheme.

On February 24, the first day of the scheme, the
Oriental Pearl Tower saw three times the usual number of tourists.

The scheme will be extended until July 28. It was due
to end on April 28 but the discounts have proved extremely popular, the Shanghai
Tourism Authority said.

(Source: Shanghai Daily)

HK gov't provides flu-related emotional support service

Special Report: World Tackles A/H1N1 Flu ¡¡¡¡

HONG KONG, May 4 (Xinhua) -- The Hong Kong Social Welfare Department (SWD) allocated 620,000 HK dollars (80,083 U.S. dollars) for two non-governmental organizations to run designated hotlines to provide emotional support service for people who come under distress amid recent concerns over the A/H1N1 influenza.

The Family Crisis Support Center (FCSC) operated by Caritas- Hong Kong and the CEASE Crisis Center by the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals were funded to set up the 24-hour Human Swine Influenza Emotional Support Hotlines.

The hotlines began operations at 4 p.m. Monday, initially for a period of six months.

"The enhanced service is provided in response to the recent global outbreak of human swine influenza and the first confirmed case of the disease in Hong Kong which may have caused anxiety and emotional distress to some members of the public," a spokesman for the department said.

"Some people may feel anxious, insecure and even have excessive fear of contracting the disease, especially those with relatives or friends who are being quarantined. Others may also have great worry on the possible adverse impact on the social and economic conditions that the flu will bring to Hong Kong," he said.

"Individuals or families who may have experienced stress and emotional problems as a result of the flu are welcome to call the hotlines for counseling, support and assistance," the spokesman added.

The hotlines will be manned by registered social workers around the clock. In addition, social workers will provide face-to-face counseling to help individuals and families with emotional problems by strengthening their skills in coping with stress and working out positive ways to face their situation.

China develops new diagnostic reagent to test for A/H1N1 flu virus in pigs

BEIJING, May 3 (Xinhua) -- China developed a new
diagnostic reagent to test for A/H1N1 flu virus in pigs and the new method could
provide test results in five hours, the Ministry of Agriculture said Sunday.

The ministry has organized experts soon after the
outbreak of A/H1N1 to develop new diagnostic reagents to test for A/H1N1 virus.
The method could also provide references for the virus in humans, the ministry
said.

The ministry has urged local
branches to strengthen efforts on the storage and management of emergency
materials for the influenza A/H1N1 prevention and control.

China suspends imports of pigs from Canada's Alberta

BEIJING, May 3 (Xinhua) -- China would suspend imports of pigs or relevant products from Alberta of Canada, said the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine and the Ministry of Agriculture Sunday.

The move was made after some pigs in the province of Alberta had been found to be infected with the A/H1N1 flu Saturday. Full story

Shanghai officials say 68 quarantined after flight from Mexico with flu case

SHANGHAI, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Sixty-eight people who were on the same Mexico City-Shanghai flight with a Mexican national later diagnosed with influenza A/H1N1 in Hong Kong, have been located and are in quarantine in Shanghai, health officials told reporters Sunday.

None have displayed any flu symptoms, according to Xu Jianguang, head of the municipal health bureau. Full story

China says quarantined passengers from
Mexico flight show no flu symptoms

BEIJING, May 3 (Xinhua) -- None of the passengers quarantined in China who took the same flight with a Mexican national later diagnosed with influenza A/H1N1 in Hong Kong had shown flu symptoms as of Sunday noon, China's health ministry said.

All the passengers aboard Thursday's Mexican flight
Aeromexico 098 from Mexico City to Shanghai have been located, and those who
remained in China were quarantined, the ministry said. Full story

Health Ministry: China to start daily
status report on A/H1N1

BEIJING, May 2 (Xinhua) -- China's Health
Ministry will begin a daily status report on influenza A/H1N1 starting Sunday,
though the mainland has yet to report a case, the ministry said in a circular
Saturday.

The ministry will also report the condition of those who
were in close contact with influenza A/H1N1 patients, the circular said. Full story

113 quarantined after taking flight from Mexico with flu
case

BEIJING, May 2 (Xinhua) --
At least 113 people, who were on the same Mexico City-Shanghai flight with a
Mexican national later diagnosed with influenza A/H1N1 in Hong Kong, are under
quarantine, Chinese health authorities said Saturday.

None of them have displayed any flu symptoms so far.
Full story

Hong Kong reports no new confirmed flu
case on Sunday

HONG KONG, May 3 (Xinhua) -- There has been no
new confirmed case of influenza A/H1N1 in Hong Kong apart from the city's first
case involving a Mexican man, who was now in stable condition in a local
hospital, officials said Sunday.

The Center for Health Protection received reports on 15
patients in line with the reporting criteria for influenza A/H1N1 within the
last 24 hours or so, but the possibility of infection has been ruled out for
five of them, while laboratory tests on the other ten were still going on, said
Thomas Tsang, controller of the center. Full story

Hong Kong tightens quarantine measures
at cross-boundary control point


HONG KONG, May 2 (Xinhua) -- The health and quarantine authorities of Hong Kong
and neighboring Shenzhen City have been simultaneously implemented health
declaration measures at cross- boundary control point here Saturday after Hong
Kong reported its first confirmed case of A/H1N1 flu infection.

A spokesman for the Department of Health of Hong Kong said
beginning 20:00 Saturday (GMT 1200), all incoming travelers via the Lo Wu
Boundary Control Point would be required to submit a completed Hong
Kong-Shenzhen Entry/Exit Health Declaration Form. Full story

Video: First case influenza A/H1N1 confirmed
in Hong Kong