Shanghai government yesterday announced urgent measures to help some of the city's industries and corporations brace for the impact from the severe acute respiratory syndrome epidemic and, in the long-run, to maintain economic growth and social stability.

　　Meanwhile, city officials said the city will post double-digit economic growth this year despite the influence of the epidemic.

　　The measures include income tax exemptions, government subsidies and awards.

　　Income taxes will be exempted on special subsidies offered to medical workers directly handling the SARS epidemic. The income tax exemption also applies to overtime payments the city government pays to employ-ees of businesses producing anti-SARS medicines and articles and researchers engaged in the fight against the deadly flu-like virus.

　　For cash donations from corporations and individuals to help the research, preven-tion and control of SARS, no income taxes will be levied.

　　Financial departments of different levels shall allocate special funds for hospitals to buy anti-SARS equipment and pay subsidies to front-line medical workers. Funds should also be set up to pay for the medical treatment of SARS patients.

　　For research organiza-tions that have made break-through achievements in fighting the disease, the municipal government will refund the research costs and offer awards to the institutions.

　　In case a business suffers economic losses by producing products for fighting the SARS as instructed by the govern-ment, it will be compensated by the city treasury.

　　The city government will cancel the social cons-truction fees from all local hotels. Bus operators in Shanghai are exempted from road maintenance fees and related payments.

　　The government will pay subsidies, out of its special SARS-fighting fund, to taxi companies that suffer losses due to drastic drop of passengers owing to the fear of the disease.

　　The government will also offer subsidies to airlines, hotels, travel agencies hit by the epidemic.

　　Favorable measures concerning foreign trade will be strictly enforced. And agricultural exporters will receive tax deductions and interest rebates for loans.

　　The temporary measures are set to be valid for three months through July.