Foreign trade representatives criticized local health and trade officials yesterday for the failure to sufficiently inform them about the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in Taiwan and the measures the government is taking to control the virus.
"What I think is important is that we are presented with all the information so that we can pass it on to our capitals so that they know the true situation," said Menno Goedhart, representative of the Netherlands Trade and Investment Office. "I get my information on SARS from the newspapers. Could you give us daily updates?" he asked Director-General of the Department of Health Twu Shiing-Jer (涂醒哲).
Twu pledged to remedy the situation and provide daily updates in English through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to all the embassies and trade offices. Information in Chinese is already being supplied, he said.
Nicaragua's consul general in Taiwan, Armando Arana Sequeira, also pleaded with officials to offer timely, English updates.
Twu was speaking at an urgently-called meeting arranged by the health department, the Board of Foreign Trade and the China External Trade Development Council to inform members of the overseas business community how Taiwan is working to prevent the spread of SARS.
Presenting detailed figures and comparisons with Hong Kong and China, Twu told more than 120 dignitaries and business leaders yesterday that Taiwan was following strict self-imposed quarantine and prevention measures that exceed WHO recommendations.
"It is safe to come to Taiwan and do business," Twu said.
At yesterday's event, Ryuji Ichikawa, deputy representative of Japan's Interchange Association raised concerns that Taiwanese businessmen returning from factories and offices in China for the week-long May Day holiday at the beginning of next month could bring more cases of the disease to Taiwan. The health department's Twu replied that while the government cannot prevent Taiwanese businessmen from coming home, it would be irresponsible if they suspected they had SARS and endangered fellow passengers and their families. The Taiwan government does offer to pay for SARS treatment in China, Twu said.
But at least one businessman was not reassured by the government's efforts.
"I do not think the government is doing enough," said Alpha Huang (
He asserted that the government focus should be on finding a cure since "this is a virus, not a bacterium or pathogen. It cannot be killed."
One representative's government withdrew a travel advisory it had issued against visiting Taiwan when he gave it figures from the Taiwan government.
"New Zealand changed the advisory due to clear information," Charles Finny, director of the New Zealand Commerce and Industry Office said. "The government is doing a very good job [tackling SARS]."
Others expressed concern about seven new SARS cases reported at the Taipei Municipal Hoping Hospital reported Wednesday.
"I think they're doing a good job -- at least the statistics show that they are -- but the new statistics are worrying," said Rusiah Mohamed of the Malaysian Friendship and Trade Center.
As of yesterday, Taiwan had 38 probable cases of SARS and no deaths from the syndrome.
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