The financial sector was among the quickest to respond to the outbreak of Sars in Hong Kong. By the end of March, investment banks were taking precautionary steps. CLSA moved some of its traders and dealers to South Korea, while others were asked to work from home. HSBC Holdings sent home 50 workers who were not infected with the disease to create back-up capability.
SA number of multinational manufacturing groups, including Sony, Honda, Toshiba, Cisco and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, have restricted or banned executive travel to Hong Kong and Guangdong.