Anger and Disappointment as Swiss Authorities Place Lock Down

After lengthy negotiations at the Basel show, Swiss authorities have offered to medically examine exhibitors from China, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Singapore in the next few days for SARS before allowing them to open their booths in Zurich. Chinese organizers expressed great disappointment at the decision and decided to leave the country all together.

According to Patty Choi, manager of the Trading Development Council, the offer is unacceptable and immediately after authorities made their announcement told IDEX Online Chinese exhibitors will leave Switzerland in the next two days, rather than sit and wait.

Choi, who arrived from China yesterday morning, found the Swiss call especially odd, since she was allowed into the country at Zurich’s international airport without question. It should be noted that while they are banned from opening their booths, many who arrived from Hong Kong are walking around town freely, are not quarantined, and Swiss authorities do not feel this poses a health threat.