HONG KONG: Schools remained open and public exams went ahead as scheduled yesterday, under the shadow of Hong Kong's first confirmed case of A (H1N1) influenza.

Secretary for Education Michael Suen Ming-yeung announced Saturday that classes would continue and exams go ahead after he met with Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen.

Schools across the territory have stepped up sanitation and urged students to maintain a high level of personal hygiene.

Principal Cheung Chi-hung of Yaumati Catholic Primary School (Hoi Wang Road) said sanitation is particularly important among younger kids, because they have more frequent bodily contact with one another. He said although his students are not required to wear masks at school, they are reminded to wash their hands frequently.

The school has turned off some of its drinking machines.

He said some 20 students took leave yesterday, some exhibiting flu-like symptoms.

However, he maintains that schools should remain open, as the flu is not widespread in Hong Kong. "Closing schools should only be a last resort and it should not be implemented unless absolutely necessary."

"May is a busy time for schools. There are exams, classes and preparation work for summer activities - we don't want to affect classes."

Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority has put in place extra precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the flu, including more frequent disinfecting of exam venues.

Secretary General Francis Cheung Wing-ming said students are reminded to check their body temperatures before leaving to write their exams.

Students exhibiting flu-like symptoms at the venue will be seated in separate areas, he said.

Two candidates reported in sick and were absent from the HKCEE exams yesterday, while none called in sick for the A Level exams.

Those with valid doctor slips may reschedule aural examinations within three working days of the original exam date. There are no re-sits for written tests.

Kelvin Kan Cheuk-lun, an HKCEE candidate and student of Raimondi College, said he is not worried about the human swine flu: "I don't think it's a cause for worry. The flu does not seem to have spread to the city."

(HK Edition 05/05/2009 page1)