Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang said on Thursday that the government is on high alert to fight against swine flu.

Tsang made the remark at a meet-the-media session after visiting the Infectious Disease Center of the Princess Margaret Hospital of Hong Kong Thursday afternoon.

The chief executive said the World Health Organization has raised the alert level to Phase Five, meaning a pandemic is imminent. The government is ready to escalate the response level to the highest level of "Emergency" when necessary.

"Although the latest development is worrying, we can take comfort in the fact that Hong Kong is well equipped with top-class medical facilities in a fight against the human swine flu," he said after inspecting the isolation units of the center.

He said, as the virus continues to spread across the globe, the government stands ready for the arrival of the first confirmed case of infection any time.

"In the days ahead, the government will remain on high alert, and so must every member of the public," he said.