Tuesday, 18 Feb 2020 11:28 AM MYT
Tough restrictions on travel and movement have helped to limit the spread of the virus outside the epicentre in Hubei province, but at great cost to the Chinese economy and global business. China is the world's biggest market for smartphones and some analysts have estimated that the virus may slash demand for handsets by half in the first quarter in China.
Hong Kong increased government handouts to businesses and the Hospital Authority to HK$28 billion from HK$25 billion pledged previously, to ease the impact on the Chinese-ruled city's battered economy.