2015年CRI 香港发布韩国旅行红色警报

The Hong Kong government has issued a red travel alert for South Korea following the spread of MERS virus in the country.

Chief Secretary Carrie Lam:

"The Security Bureau issues a red travel alert for South Korea to facilitate the travel industry on their coordination¹ and follow-up work. I call on again that all residents should avoid non-essential travels to South Korea."

The red alert comes just one day after the government issued a separate health advice with similar wording.

Travel Industry Council executive director Joseph Tung says only a formal alert could help tour operators on refunds².

"Because insurance mention very clearly, if it is a red alert, then they will do some compensation. But if it is a health advice, nothing can be done. After this case, I am sure we will talk to the government, the concerned department, to see whether we can impose similar arrangement to avoid confusions."

Following the alert, all tours to South Korea this month have been cancelled in Hong Kong, affecting about 12-thousand tourists in 600 groups.

But cruise trips to the country would still go ahead as ship captains have the power to decide whether to cancel the trip or not.

Some airlines in Hong Kong have already agreed to change tickets date.

Secretary for Food and Health Dr Ko Wing-man says they will improve their work to avoid confusion in the future.

"Travel recommendation has the same effect as a red travel alert, but this time, we have established a new mechanism³. We will consider issuing health-related security warnings especially when it is in an acute situation."

A red alert, the second highest of three levels in Hong Kong, is defined as a "significant threat" to Hong Kong residents if they travel to the country.

This is the first health-related security warning it has ever issued. The last "red" travel alert was issued for Nepal in late April, following the devastating⁴ earthquake.

Other countries on the "red alert" list includes Egypt, Lebanon and Pakistan, while a higher 'black' warning is in place for Syria.

At the same time, Macau has also advised residents to avoid travel to South Korea unless absolutely necessary, and required people entering local healthcare facilities to wear masks as a precaution against MERS.

For CRI, this is Li Jing in Hong Kong.

1 coordination   

n.协调，协作

参考例句：

• Gymnastics is a sport that requires a considerable level of coordination.体操是一项需要高协调性的运动。
• The perfect coordination of the dancers and singers added a rhythmic charm to the performance.舞蹈演员和歌手们配合得很好，使演出更具魅力。

2 refunds   

n.归还，偿还额，退款( refund的名词复数 )v.归还，退还( refund的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Tomorrow he would return them to the store and claim refunds. 明天他要把它们退还给商店并要求退款。 来自辞典例句
• The new method means that taxpayers get refunds much faster. 这种新办法意味着纳税人可以较快地领到退还款。 来自辞典例句

3 mechanism   

n.机械装置；机构，结构

参考例句：

• The bones and muscles are parts of the mechanism of the body.骨骼和肌肉是人体的组成部件。
• The mechanism of the machine is very complicated.这台机器的结构是非常复杂的。

4 devastating   

adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的

参考例句：

• It is the most devastating storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的风暴。
• Affairs do have a devastating effect on marriages.婚外情确实会对婚姻造成毁灭性的影响。