Class act: Director of the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in Canada, Rosanna Ure (second from left) presents certificates to the four presidents of the Hong Kong university alumni associations for their initiative.

Another 5,000 Canadian corporations and individuals in Vancouver have pledged their support for healthcare professionals in Hong Kong and Canada in the fight against SARS.

This brought the total number of signatures collected in signature campaigns organised in Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto to more than 11,500, the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in Canada says.

The latest batch of signatures was collected in a campaign that local alumni associations of four universities in Hong Kong initiated.

In recognition of the initiative and the community spirit of these groups, HKETO Director Rosanna Ure presented certificates of appreciation to their presidents. They included:

* President of the Alumni Association of the University of Hong Kong in British Columbia, Chow Wai Ping;

* President of the Alumni Association of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (British Columbia), Tang Kam-chuen;

* President of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Western Canada) Association, Randy Chan; and

*President of Hong Kong Baptist University Alumni Association of British Columbia, Oliver Chan.

"We truly appreciate the overwhelming support that the Canadian community has given to the SARS fighters in Hong Kong. We are happy to note that Hong Kong's SARS situation is now under control," Mrs Ure said at the certificate presentation ceremony.

"The lifting of the travel advisories by the World Health Organisation on May 23 and by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on June 4 further demonstrates that the international community has regained its confidence in Hong Kong and that Hong Kong is a safe place to travel. Life in Hong Kong, as a favoured international travel and investment destination, is returning to normal," she added.

Mrs Ure was in Vancouver as part of her visit to major Canadian cities to garner support for enhancing Hong Kong-Canada collaboration on medical research and business partnerships.

During her visit, Mrs Ure met with the President and CEO of the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research, Dr. Aubrey Tingle, to explore opportunities for future exchanges and cooperation between Vancouver and Hong Kong on medical research and experience sharing on SARS.

Mrs Ure also hosted a dinner for British Columbia's Minister of Health Planning Sindi Hawkins during which she updated the Minister on the latest SARS situation in Hong Kong and explored opportunities for British Columbia and Hong Kong to cooperate.

Mrs Ure met the Vancouver media and briefed them on Hong Kong's efforts to rebuild the confidence of international community and measures to revitalise the Hong Kong economy.