CALENDAR OF EVENTS IN 1996
13
14
20
28
December
5
10
11
16
18
21
23
31
Senior representatives of the joint Liaison Group sign an agreed minute on arrangements for the transfer of the Exchange Fund to the HKSAR Government on July 1, 1997.
The Hang Seng Index passes 13 000 points for the first time.
Hong Kong's worst commercial building fire in almost 50 years, in Nathan Road, Jordan, kills 40 people and leaves 80 injured. Another fire in Causeway Bay two days later adds to calls for upgrading old premises.
Governor Patten meets Japanese Prime Minister Mr Ryutaro Hashimoto in Tokyo. Mr Hashimoto assures Mr Patten that Japan will treat the SAR passport differently from that of the People's Republic of China. The following day Mr Patten discusses Hong Kong matters with the Canadian PM, Mr Jean Chretien, in Tokyo.
The Refugee Co-ordinator, Mr Brian Bresnihan, says Whitehead detention camp will close on January 3 and all Vietnamese migrants will be returned by mid-1997.
Two groups totalling 243 Vietnamese migrants return to Hanoi on the 84th and 85th flights under the Orderly Repatriation Programme. They bring to 8 415 the total number repatriated under the programme since November 1991.
Mr Tung Chee Hwa is elected first Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, which will come into being on July 1, 1997.
For the third consecutive year, the Washington-based Heritage Foundation declares Hong Kong to have the world's freest economy. Mr Tung Chee Hwa receives from Chinese Premier Li Peng a decree appointing him the first Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Mr Tung meets President Jiang Zemin.
A 60-member provisional legislature of the HKSAR is returned by the Selection Committee in Shenzhen.
The Code on Access to Information is extended to cover all 91 government branches and departments.
Governor Patten meets Chief Executive (Designate) Tung Chee Hwa at Government House and discusses government help with staff and premises during the remaining transition period.
An estimated 200 000 people watch Hong Kong's first New Year's Eve fireworks display, staged off Tuen Mun.