Hong Kong, Mar 25: Hong Kong chief executive Tung Chee-Hwa has twice been tested for a mystery respiratory illness that has killed 10 people and stricken at least 260 in the territory, it was reported today. Both of Tung's tests for the atypical pneumonia were negative, the south China morning post said.
Tung was first tested after he was on a Dragonair flight from Beijing to Hong Kong that carried a passenger who showed symptoms of the illness but was later cleared.


In the second case, there was concern Tung may have been infected from contact with hospital authority chief executive William Ho, who was hospitalised late on Sunday after showing symptoms of pneumonia.


At least 260 people in Hong Kong have contracted severe acute respiratory syndrome, or Sars, more than half the global total, according to official figures.

The illness has claimed 10 lives in Hong Kong, four in Vietnam and three in Canada.

Hong Kong is gripped by fear of the mysterious disease and many people wear surgical masks in public places to try to avoid contracting the illness.
Health secretary Yeoh Eng-Kiong announced yesterday a foul-point strategy to stop the spread of the illness, including that people should wear masks if they have a fever or are coughing.

Four schools were closed yesterday for a week, after five students, a teacher and a school bus driver were found to have Sars, officials said.

Bureau Report