Seven inmates of a Hong Kong mental institution were being tested for SARS after suffering from fever and breathing difficulties, a government spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

"We are checking the cause of the symptoms in the seven men. Apart from SARS, we are also testing for other possible causes," said the spokeswoman for the Hospital Authority.

The men fell ill on Tuesday afternoon and were rushed to Tuen Mun hospital, where they were isolated for more detailed checks. Chest x-rays of the seven men showed clear lungs and their condition was now stable, the Hospital Authority said.

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