Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Chief Executive Donald Tsang Tuesday extended thanks and apologies to the people confined to a hotel and a vacation campsite in the city since Hong Kong's first human swine flu case was confirmed on May 1.

Tsang said the quarantine was "truly an extraordinary measure in an extraordinary time".

Tsang addressed reporters after Hong Kong Secretary for Food and Health York Chow briefed the Executive Council on the latest developments.

"Over the past few days the HKSAR government has taken some difficult decisions. Those decisions were difficult because they affected many people in one way or another," Tsang said. "To all affected I wish to say thank you. I appeal for their understanding and forbearance, that what we have done is in the interest of both themselves and public health."

He offered special words of comfort to those in the Metro Park Hotel, where the Mexican man tested positive for the influenza A/ H1N1 stayed.

"You are our guests. You are supposed to be here to enjoy yourselves, visit friends and do business. Now you are confined to the hotel and vacation campsites. We can appreciate the boredom, frustration and dissatisfaction the quarantine may have caused you," he said, emphasizing the need for strict action to contain the mysterious new virus.

"This is for the protection of your, as much as Hong Kong people's, health. This is also what we should do as a responsible member of the international community in the global fight against the new virus."

Asking for people's patience, he stressed help would be offered where possible. He also saluted the hotel management and staff fordoing their best in a difficult condition.

"Although we do not have a second case yet, we must remain on high alert. This is going to be a long battle. We do not know when we will need to take public health measures that might cause people further inconvenience. But as always, I know I can count on your understanding and support when it is needed."

Under Secretary for Food and Health Gabriel Leung said there are no new confirmed Influenza A/H1N1 cases in Hong Kong, adding four quarantined Mexicans and eight other people from the country will be flown home.

Leung said the Mexican government has chartered a plane to collect them on Tuesday night and has agreed to ensure the four quarantined will be separated from other passengers. Special precautionary measures and transport arrangements will be made for them.

The Mexican visitor who is the city's first and only confirmed case is still being treated in the Princess Margaret Hospital and is stable. Leung said the man cannot be discharged because he may still pose a public-health risk as the government is not certain whether he is non-infectious.

Center for Health Protection Controller Thomas Tsang said there are two new reported cases which need follow-up tests involving two people arriving from South Korea.

Tsang said 30 Metropark Hotel guests have still not been located and the center is working with the Immigration Department and the hotel association to find them.

(Xinhua News Agency May 6, 2009)