CALENDAR OF EVENTS IN 1997
2223
25
28
29
October
1
6
8
00
15
19
21
25
28
29
The three-day World Bank/IMF meetings open.
The Education Department announces plans to implement mother- tongue teaching in public secondary schools from the 1998 academic year.
The Provisional Legislative Council passes the Legislative Council Bill, an important step in the elections of the first SAR legislature.
The government announces the establishment of the Electoral Affairs Commission, a three-member independent body to oversee the practical arrangements for the elections.
The Land Fund Trust is dissolved after operating for 11 years and accumulating $197 billion. Control of the fund is handed over to the HKMA the next day.
The HKSAR celebrates its first Chinese National Day.
The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Anson Chan, presents the first Progress Report of the SARG, showing that the government scores a 94 per cent success rate in implementing 830 service pledges.
The Chief Executive delivers his maiden policy address of the HKSAR, setting out goals for the next five years.
The Chief Executive pays his first official visit to Japan and holds a series of high-level meetings with Japan's political leaders.
The Deputy Secretary for Security, Miss Sally Wong, attends the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Executive Committee meeting in Geneva as a member of China's delegation.
Hong Kong cyclist Wong Kam-po wins a gold medal in the 180- kilometre flat race in cycling in the 8th All China Games in Shanghai. He returns to a hero's welcome.
The Chief Executive leaves HK for Brussels to hold a series of top-level meetings with the European Union's political and business leaders. The Chief Executive pays his first official visit to the UK after the Handover and holds talks with the British Prime Minister.
Three elder statesmen arrive from the mainland for a five-day visit to Hong Kong. They are the first batch of elder statesmen to visit the SAR.
The SARG announces a US$1.25 million ($9.75 million) donation to the World Trade Organisation Trust Fund to extend trade-related technical assistance to less advanced economies.
The Hang Seng Index takes its biggest-ever plunge of 1 438 points to close at 9 059.
Hong Kong hosts the two-day Third Asia-Pacific Economic Co- operation Investment Symposium for more than 100 senior business men and government officials.
King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway, lead a Norwegian delegation to Hong Kong after visiting the Mainland.
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