CALENDAR OF EVENTS IN 1997
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Mr Patten pays his last duty visit to London as Governor of Hong Kong.
A Chinese Vice-Premier, Mr Wu Banguo, officiates at the inauguration of the through-train service between Kowloon and Beijing. The first through train arrives in Hong Kong the following day.
Hong Kong formally signs the World Trade Organisation Agreement on Government Procurement.
The Chief Executive accepts the recommendation that Mr Andrew Li, QC, be appointed as the Chief Justice of the HKSAR Court of Final Appeal.
Secretary for Policy Co-ordination, Mr Michael Suen, and Director of Immigration, Mrs Regina Ip, talk to Chinese Foreign Ministry officials in Beijing on visa arrangements for foreigners after July 1. The Lantau Link and North Lantau Highway open to traffic. Cathay Pacific and Dragonair ground all 15 of their Airbus A330 aircraft amid mounting concern on the reliability of their Rolls-Royce 700 engines. After modifications, all return to service.
The Chief Executive decides to continue living in his residence. Government House will be used as a guest house for VIPs visiting the territory and for official functions.
The Sino-British Joint Liaison Group holds the last meeting before the Handover.
June
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The Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands, Mr Bowen Leung, leaves for Canada to represent Hong Kong at the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation Ministerial Meeting on Sustainable Development, to be held in Toronto, Canada, between June 9 and 11.
Mr Justice Litton, Mr Justice Ching and Mr Justice Bokhary are appointed permanent judges of the Court of Final Appeal. Mr Justice Chan is appointed Chief Judge of the High Court.
The Chief Executive announces that all existing members of the Urban Council, the Regional Council and 18 District Boards will continue their service after July 1. An additional 20 members are appointed to the provisional municipal councils and 96 to the provisional district boards. The Whitehead Detention Centre for Vietnamese migrants closes after eight-and-a-half years' operation.
The Sino-British Joint Liaison Group agrees on the mechanism for the continued application of some 200 multilateral treaties to Hong Kong after June 30, 1997.
The Immigration Department announces that, from June 23, all Chinese diplomatic and consular missions will accept visa applications for entry into the HKSAR.
The Sino-British Joint Liaison Group agrees on the entry of advance troops of the PLA in Hong Kong before zero hour on July 1.
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