July 7 (Bloomberg) -- Hong Kong's health chief, Yeoh Eng- kiong, resigned today following a legislative report that criticized his handling of last year's SARS outbreak, which killed 299 people in the territory, the Associated Press said.

The report released Monday said Yeoh paid too little attention to the disease, severe acute respiratory syndrome, when it appeared in mainland China and had issued statements that misled the public, AP said. Last year 1,755 people in Hong Kong were infected with SARS, according to AP.

Yeoh appeared at a news conference with Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa, who praised the health chief. Tung said he accepted Yeoh's resignation to help ease public concerns, the news agency said.

Yeoh will remain in the post until a successor is chosen, AP said.

(AP, 7-7)

To contact the reporter on this story: Beth O'Connell in London at boconnell@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: July 7, 2004 09:25 EDT