HONG KONG - HONG KONG'S move to quarantine hundreds of people in a hotel after a Mexican man tested positive for H1N1 flu was causing dismay among some guests on Saturday, while an infectious disease expert questioned the drastic steps.

Over-reaction Lo Wing-lok, an infectious disease expert, said the Hong Kong government was over-reacting. 'He would have been infectious starting from the time he was on the plane. Think about all the people around him on the plane, while he was going through customs, waiting for baggage, in the taxi, in the hotel and when he got to hospital,' Dr Lo said. ... more

The measures taken by the authorities in Hong Kong underscore the concern here about the new flu and the confirmed case, Asia's first. Hong Kong was badly hit by the Sars virus in 2003 and has had many episodes of H5N1 bird flu for more than a decade.

'They said everybody needed to go back to their rooms. I don't want to go to my room because I want to be out,' an Australian man at the hotel told a TV reporter by telephone.

'They haven?t told us anything at all. They told me I will stay here. I won't be allowed out and this is it. So I don't know what is happening.'

Officials said no one would be allowed to leave the hotel in the Wanchai district, an area popular with tourists, and outsiders would not be allowed in. Journalists and camera crews massed on the street outside the hotel, which is being guarded by police.

Twelve guests who had refused to stay were taken to a lodging house close to the border with mainland China.

The site was used to quarantine Hong Kong people who were exposed to the Sars virus back in 2003, a government spokesman said.

The government denied people were being confined to their rooms.

Health officials said the 'essential needs' of those inside the hotel would be looked after. They would also get regular medical check-ups and psychologists were on standby. -- REUTERS