HONG KONG, May 7, 2009 (AFP) - The first tranche of people held in quarantine in Hong Kong over swine flu fears were released Thursday, a health official said.

The quarantine was ordered after a Mexican who arrived in Hong Kong last week tested positive for the A(H1N1) virus.

A total of 33 people out of around 380 kept in quarantine were released from various locations around the city, a spokeswoman for the Centre for Health Protection told AFP.

Most of those who were freed had come into contact with the Mexican by sitting close to him on a flight from Shanghai last Thursday. A taxi driver who drove him from the airport to the hotel was also among those released.

None had tested positive for swine flu in the past seven days.

Another taxi driver who drove the Mexican from the hotel to the hospital last Thursday was to be released at 8:00 pm (1200 GMT).

Around 280 guests and staff held in the city centre hotel where the Mexican stayed were due to be released on Friday evening, exactly seven days after the hotel was isolated.

Hong Kong's government has apologised repeatedly to guests for the ordeal, which has been criticised by some as an over-reaction, but officials have insisted it was necessary to prevent the spread of the virus.