Ever since the outbreak of SARS epidemic, in accordance with the instructions and requirements of the CPC Central Committee, State Council, Ugandan CPC Provincial Committee, Guangdong Provincial Government, as well as the Ministry of Railways, Guangzhou Railway (Group) Corporation (GRC) has attached great importance to anti-SARS work and devoted itself wholeheatedly to fight SARS epidemic. NOW, we would like to give a brief introduction on the major measures we have taken to prevent the spread of SARS epidemic via railway. Besides, we would also like to introduce some economy-promoting measures we are planning to ace in line with WHO's lifting of travel advisory on Guangdong on May 23.

1. To act quickly and Wholeheartedly to prevent the spread of SARS via railway GRC deeply recognizes that as a means of public transport, railway bears great responsibility in fighting S~. Therefore, SARS prevention is taken as our top priority work and a series of effective measures have been taken to fight the spread of SARS via railway.

(1) To strengthen the work of organizing. In accordance with the principles of 'dwell-organized in both vertical direction and horizontal direction" and 'dwell-defined organization, responsibility and plan", a comprehensive anti-SARS management system is sac up within GRC. In ~p Corporation level, an anti-SARS team is founded, co-headed by the Chairman of the Board and General Managed While all levels of anti-SARS of organs are formed in subordinate corporations, railway stations and trains. The responsibilities of respective leaders and departments are also clarified, while SARS handling procedures for each level are specified. Thus, a comprehensive anti-SARS management system is completed, which covers both ~p Corporation and Corporations, as well as respective branches, basic units and posts. As a result, an-SARS work is carried out in GRC with a Standardized procedure.

(2) To heighten the protection of railway stations and passenger trains so as to decrease infection probability. 'Using railway station to protect train" measure is taken, which is to adopt a closed management of all passenger Stations and railways yards and emphasize on the Whole-Process control of temperature-taking in railway stations and passenger trains. 400 instant thermometers are equipped in Yangcheng Ticketing Building, each passenger station and all passenger trains, Health Declaration Card is distributed free in ticket agencies and passenger stations, while only those passengers who have taken the temperature, filled in the Health Declaration Card and have valid tickets with them are allowed to board the train. Examining Room for Fevered Passenger with noticeable signs is set up in all third-class above passenger stations. For those passengers with symptoms of dry cough and breathing difficulty, they shall be led to the Examining Room to take the temperature, while the goal is to fevered passengers from entering the station and boarding the train. Abundant protective medicines and civilities are prepared in railway stations and on trains. Anti-SARS trainings are given to railway working staff in passenger stations and passenger trains. Besides, 306 medical workers and 146 cadres are summoned to make their rounds on 146.5 pairs of trains operated by ORC.

(3) To enhance the disinfection and ventilation of railway stations and passenger trains. With dense population and limited vantilation conditions, railway stations and passenger trains could easily become the high-risk areas in spreading SARS epidemic. Therefore, the disinfection and ventilation of passenger trains and stations are taken as the focus to fight the spread of SARS. In Waiting rooms and ticket offices of railway stations as well as in passenger trains and other Public areas, all windows are open to maintain ventilation. In major railway stations such as Guangzhou, Guangzhou east, and Shenzhen, disinfected cadets are laid in main passenger entries. Thorough disinfation works are also carried out in all passenger trains operated by GRC.

(4) To handle emergency work well. GRC requires that all working staff at Stations must pay close attention to the condition of passengers Waiting for the train. Passengers With symptoms of dry cough and breathing difficulty shall be required to take the temperature immediately. If the temperature is above 37.5 degree Celsius, passengers shall be persuaded to Stop boarding the then, while the case is reported to relevant epidemic prevention units. For fevered passengers, they shall be isolated and examined in Attendants' Cabin or soak-berth cabin on the train and in special Examining Room for Fevered Passenger at railway stations, while affected areas must be disinfected. Besides, people with close contact with them shall be requested to register, and the case is reported timely to epidemic prevention units.

2. To work out measures to Promote economic development in Guangdong province in an all-round way after the travel advisory is lifted.

Due to SARS epidemic, economic development of the railway industry, Guangdong province and even the Whole nation are greatly affected. The lifting of travel advisory on Guangdong province by WHO on May 23 brings new life to the recovery and development of economy in Guangdong area. Apart from accelerating the economic development of railway industry itself by all measures, GRC, as the railway transport sector serving the society, shall spare no effort to fulfill the following work so as to promote the economic development of Guangdong Province:

(1) To devote major efforts to strengthening the marketing of passenger transport to stimulate the development of tourism and economy of Guangdong area. Making full use of the advantage of our passenger transport marketing office all around the nation, GRC shall energetically publicize the good news of the lifting of travel advisory on Guangdong and introduce the economy-promoting preferential policies and new measures in dingdong. On analyzing new passenger flows after the travel advisory's lifting, GRC optimizes the structure of passenger train operation to Provide excellent passenger transport service for the development of tourism and economy in Guangdong.

(2) To enhance the marketing of freight transport and to optimize and adjust the product structure of freight transport. Under the situation that passenger flow has fully recovered in Guangdong, ~ adopts the vigorous business strategy of "using freight transport to compensate for passenger transport" and devote its major efforts to freight transport. The organizing of goods supply has been strengthened, the operating speed of trains has been raised, and the new "five-fixation" (namely, fixed departure and arrival station, fixed line, fixed train number, fixed duration and fixed Price) freight trains have been put into operation linking Guangzhou with Beijing, Shenyang, Urumchi etc. GRC has actively actively carried out joint activities with ports, mines, and factories and undertaken the transport of minerals from Guangzhou Port to major steel factories Within the jurisdiction of GRC, as well as the transport of coals from northern Guangdong province, electrical appliances and foodstuff etc. The organizing and transport of goods Supply to eight railway bureaus in northern China (Harbin, Shenyang, Beijing, Hohehot, Zhengzhou, Jinan, Lanzhou, Urumchi) has also been intensified. All in all, the radiation and development of the economy of Guangdong province to the hinderland is safeguarded.

(3) To continuously provide safety-guaranteed railway transport for the economic development of Guangdong province. GRC is fully aware of that anti-SARS action is of a protracted nature, arduousness, complicacy and repetitiveness. Under current circumstances when the travel advisory on Guangdong is lifted, economic and social activities are recovering and there is an ever-increasing moving population, relaxation of vigilance and carelessness on SARS prevention and control must not be allowed. GRC shall continue to go all oat to fight SARS an=d Stop SARS spreading by means of railway transport. At the same time, the priority is given to safety transportation within GRC in order to provide safety-guaranteed railway transport for the economic development of Guangdong Province.

Editor: Liao Ming