CALENDAR OF EVENTS IN 2000
23
27
30
31
November
1
5
11
12
13
14
15
27
29
The Customs and Excise Department, which assumed the Vice-Chairmanship of the World Customs Organisation for the Asia-Pacific Region in July, hosts a four-day Regional Contacts Points Meeting in Hong Kong. Twenty-five delegates of 15 Customs administrations within the region attend.
The Chief Executive completes a two-day duty visit to Beijing where he had meetings with President Jiang Zemin, Prime Minister Zhu Rongji and Vice Premier Qian Qichen.
The Government announces that the Executive Council has authorised the construction of the Kowloon-Canton Railway's Tsim Sha Tsui Extension and the Ma On Shan Rail.
On a visit to Japan, the Chief Secretary for Administration opens a Hong Kong Film Festival in Tokyo.
Hong Kong's team makes a triumphant return from the Paralympic Games in Sydney with 18 medals eight gold, three silver and seven bronze.
On his first visit to Britain since October 1997, the Chief Executive tells political and business leaders in London that Hong Kong is ideally situated for British companies to capitalise on business opportunities in Asia.
The Chief Executive receives the 2001 Index of Economic Freedom from Mr Edwin Feulner, President of the Heritage Foundation, which has rated Hong Kong as the world's freest economy for the seventh successive year.
The Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Mr Li Ruihuan, arrives for a five-day visit at the invitation of the Chief Executive.
The Chief Secretary for Administration leads a business delegation on the first-ever major Hong Kong promotion in New Zealand.
The Financial Secretary leaves on a visit to three US cities (New York, Boston and Atlanta) for a series of meetings with financial analysts, business executives, bankers, academics and the media.
The Chief Secretary for Administration presents Hong Kong's case for holding the 2006 Asian Games to the General Assembly of the Olympic Council of Asia, in Pusan, Republic of Korea. Although Doha, capital of Qatar in the United Arab Emirates, is chosen as the venue, she says the HKSAR has gained valuable experience from making its bid.
The Government hosts the 5th Annual Plenary Meeting of the Inter-Governmental Asia-Pacific Consultations on Refugees, Displaced Persons and Migrants. The meeting discusses, among other things, co-operation in tackling the problem of migrant smuggling.
The Chief Executive attends the 20th anniversary celebrations of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone.
An International Monetary Fund (IMF) Staff Mission is upbeat about the performance of the Hong Kong economy in its Concluding Statement following the annual Article IV consultation with China in respect of the HKSAR. It forecasts a 9.5 per cent GPD growth for 2000.
The Chief Executive joins leaders from other Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) economies in Brunei for talks that focus on creating the impetus for a new round of world trade talks.
The Chief Executive hosts a reception at Government House for more than 150 leaders and members of Hong Kong business associations around the world who are attending the Hong Kong Forum organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.
The Securities and Futures Bill is introduced into the Legislative Council. The bill has been refined in the light of comments received during the White Bill consultation from
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