CALENDAR OF EVENTS IN 1999
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The Financial Secretary ends a promotional visit to the United Kingdom and Ireland by addressing the Dublin Chamber of Commerce, where he congratulates Ireland for its high-technology advances.
The Hong Kong Cultural Centre celebrates its 10th anniversary.
The Republic of Botswana becomes the 67th country/territory to extend visa-free access to holders of HKSAR passports. Other countries/territories to extend such access earlier in the year were Bahrain, Belize, Ecuador, Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Indonesia, Montserrat, Netherlands Antilles, Niue, Palau, Tuvalu,
The Growth Enterprise Market is launched on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong, providing an alternative avenue for emerging companies to raise funds for business development.
The Chief Executive welcomes a Sino-US agreement on terms for China's accession to the World Trade Organisation.
The Executive Council supports a bid for Hong Kong to host the 2006 Asian Games. The Chief Executive meets senior officials of the Central Government in Beijing during a two-day visit.
The Chief Secretary for Administration begins a week-long visit to Australia, as the head of a high-powered delegation to promote Hong Kong.
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The Highways Department announces plans for building two more big bridges linking Stonecutters Island and Kwai Chung and the other linking northern Lantau and the western New Territories.
A record 816 503 voters, or 35.82 per cent of the electorate, turn out for the inaugural District Council elections at 432 polling stations across Hong Kong.
Hong Kong retains its rating as the world's freest economy in the 2000 Index of Economic Freedom released by the Heritage Foundation and The Wall Street Journal.
December
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The Provision of Municipal Services (Reorganisation) Bill, which provides a legal framework for delivery of municipal services, is passed by the Legislative Council paving the way for the dissolution of the Provisional Regional and Urban Councils. The Court of Final Appeal decides that the interpretation by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of provisions of the Basic Law relating to the right of abode is binding on the courts of the HKSAR.
The Chief Executive begins a two-day visit to the Republic of Korea.
The Sino-British Joint Liaison Group, set up under the auspices of the 1984 Joint Declaration on Hong Kong, begins its 47th and final meeting, a two-day session at Government House.
The Court of Final Appeal upholds the validity of laws that make it illegal to desecrate the national or regional flags.
The Chief Executive, accompanied by a party of Hong Kong officials and representatives, travels to Macau for the Handover ceremony later that day marking China's resumption of the exercise of sovereignty as Portuguese administration of the enclave comes to an end.
The Provisional Urban Council holds its final full meeting prior to its dissolution at the end of the year. The Provisional Regional Council's final meeting takes place on December 30.
The temperature in the urban areas falls to 5.8 degrees Celsius, the lowest reading since 1991, as a cold spell grips Hong Kong.
A new framework is outlined for the delivery of municipal services from January 1, 2000, to provide and enhance services currently undertaken by the municipal councils. A new Environment and Food Bureau will be created, overseeing the work of a new
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