Authorities were still awaiting test results for the third reporter, a hospital spokesman said, adding that all three were in stable condition.

Initial chest x-rays carried out on the trio were "normal and clear" and did not indicate that they had pneumonia. They had no fever on Thursday.

Tests for the coronavirus, which causes SARS, and flu have also been carried out.

Hospital Authority Chief Executive William Ho told reporters that more tests were needed for a final result.

The three men were part of a nine-member crew from local broadcaster TVB who were in Guangdong last week to cover a SARS case in the province involving a 32-year-old mainland Chinese television journalist, acting deputy director of health Regina Ching said.

The three were admitted to Queen Mary Hospital late Wednesday after coming down with fever, coughs and upper tract infections on December 30.

"The reporters went to some high risk areas in Guangzhou including hospitals and wild game markets as part of their work ... one individual was also believed to have consumed wild game," she added.

As a precaution, the trio were admitted to isolation wards, said Ching.

The other six crew members have displayed no unusual symptoms.

A health spokeswoman said authorities had received a list of TVB staff sent to cover the SARS case in Guangzhou. So far, no other person had reported feeling unwell.

The 32-year-old-television journalist was China's only confirmed SARS patient this winter and has recovered and was released from hospital Thursday.

However China's official Xinhua news agency said Thursday a 20-year-old waitress had been hospitalised with suspected SARS.

Local health authorities were notified of the new suspected case early Thursday. It was not immediately known whether the waitress had visited Hong Kong recently, said Ching.

Hong Kong was the second worst region during the outbreak last spring, with 299 deaths from nearly 1,800 infections.

TERRA.WIRE