The number of people contracting SARS on a steady decline in Hong Kong is an optimistic and the best sign of the excellent work Hong Kong has done in combating SARS, a WHO expert said here Monday.

Leader of WHO epidemiologists team Udo Buchholz made the remarks at a press conference to introduce four environmental experts to assist the Hong Kong Department of Health to further investigate risk factors involved in the possible environmental transmission of SARS in residential buildings.

Buchholz noted, "The Hong Kong health and environment authorities have done an excellent job in investigating SARS outbreaks in residential buildings including Amoy Gardens and the Metropole Hotel.

"The WHO environmental team will work hand in hand with the Hong Kong authorities to see where value can be added and to determine together what leads are the best ones to follow," he added.

The environmental team headed by Heinz Feldmann, visited the Public Health Laboratory earlier Monday, where they accessed facilities to analyze environmental samples.

Residential estates that the environmental team will inspect in around three weeks include the Hing Tung Lau, Amoy Gardens, Metropole Hotel and Koway Court, which have witnessed the contraction of SARS, Feldmann said.

The environmental team, all from Health Canada, have combined expertise in mechanical ventilation, plumbing systems, airborne monitoring and sampling.

The environmental specialists join the epidemiologists team which has been working for some weeks in Hong Kong assisting the Department of Health to fight against SARS.

Additional health experts from Australia may join the WHO environmental team later depending on the number of projects agreed to be undertaken.

(Xinhua News Agency April 28, 2003)