"Shenzhen is our shared home. I don't feel panic and will remain
here enjoying life as I did before," Manfred Jaeger, a German
expert with Shenzhen the International Management Service Co., Ltd,
told Xinhua in a telephone interview Wednesday.
Even in this special period affected by severe acute respiratory
syndrome (SARS), Jaeger still spends his leisure time hiking around
the "Shenzhen Window on the World", feeding birds on the outskirts
of the city, or collecting sea shells along the shore at sunrise or
sunset.
Since the SARS outbreak, Jaeger has received many overseas calls
from concerned friends. He explained to all of them that the
epidemic is not as severe as it appears in foreign media reports.
Shenzhen has established tight control over SARS, as only 47
probable SARS cases have been found among more than seven million
residents.
As
Jaeger described, most foreign experts in China chose to stay,
working and living as usual. According to statistics from the State
Bureau of Foreign Experts Affairs (SBFEA), experts from foreign
countries and also from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan working in the
Chinese mainland number more than 440,000 annually, and those
staying more than a year number about 185,000. To date, no foreign
experts have been infected by SARS.
Shenzhen, as the first of China's special economic zones, now has
more than 1,000 foreign experts in its six districts. The local
health administration established a 24-hour hotline, published SARS
information in foreign languages and set up special wards to ensure
timely medical treatment.
Patrick Simon, director of the Meilin branch of Carrefour in Futian
district, said the local government did not cover up any SARS
information, as local officials even gave their personal telephone
numbers to the foreigners. Even more gratifying is the fact that no
SARS cases have been identified in his branch and that sales have
remained at normal levels due to the adoption of preventive
measures suggested by the government.
William W. Graessley, a US expert with CNOOC China
Limited-Shenzhen, said many foreign colleagues sent their wives and
children back home upon learning of the SARS outbreak in
Guangdong.
"But now, I've learned about both SARS and prevention methods from
in-depth coverage of the local media. Most of my friends and I
trust the Chinese government and no longer fear SARS," said
William, adding that none of the 100 foreign staff members in his
company has left.
As
Chinese leaders repeatedly emphasized the health and safety of
foreign experts, the SBFEA set up a nationwide emergency management
network. Local governments also took concrete measures to protect
foreign experts, as chief officials in Jiangsu and Shanxi visited
experts, Yunnan held SARS briefings for them, and Zhejiang even
drafted a SARS prevention plan especially for them.
According to the SBFEA, there were 254 foreigners from 22 countries
and more than 200 foreign tourists in Shanxi. To ensure their
safety, the local administration has not only designated hospitals,
but also arranged special cars, dining rooms, and medical staff for
them.
Leprince, the representative of the France-based DMS company
toTaiyuan Iron and Steel Company, said the company told its foreign
staff about the accurate situation, which immediately dispelled
rumors. All offices are disinfected everyday, and workers are
provided with protective masks.
"The local government even prepared a SARS briefing in English for
each of us. Our life and work will go on as usual, with a
calmheart," he said.
(Xinhua News Agency May 29, 2003)
