China Cautions Officials Not to Hide SARS Cases, by Erik Eckholm, but Beijing officials seemed determined to minimize the threat:

One motive for Beijing's evasions, diplomats and doctors here speculate, was to avoid the placement of Beijing, the capital city, on WHO's travel advisory list, which now recommends against "nonessential travel" to Guangdong and Hong Kong.

But the tactic appears to have backfired, with official credibility demolished and rumors running rampant, here and among prospective visitors, about SARS in the city. The very uncertainty about the situation in Beijing and other parts of China could lead the world body to advise against travel here, though that has not happened yet.

Indeed, John Pomfret says, In China's Capital, 'We're Panicking': Reality of SARS Empties Streets of Beijing.