Calendar of Events 2016
January
11
13
16-17
17
19-30
24
27
29
30
At the ceremonial opening of the legal year, the Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal, Mr Geoffrey Ma Tao-li, says that if society puts any value on the concept of the rule of law as a cornerstone or pillar in our community, it is important to understand Hong Kong's legal system and how justice - for, conceptually, this is after all the purpose of law is administered. Hong Kong's legal system is based on the common law and on that system's characteristics of fairness, transparency and access to justice, he says.
In his fourth Policy Address, the Chief Executive of the HKSAR, Mr CY Leung, announces he will chair a new high-level steering committee to formulate strategies and policies for Hong Kong's participation in the Belt and Road Initiative. A Belt and Road Office will also be established to take forward related studies and to coordinate work between government departments and other organisations.
The Hong Kong Velodrome hosts the final round of the 2015-16 UCI Track Cycling World Cup for the first time.
About 61,000 of 74,000 registered runners take part in the Hong Kong Marathon as more than 75mm of rain is recorded by the Hong Kong Observatory from 15 to 17 January, the worst weather in the 20-year history of the race.
Ms Lee Wai-sze wins a gold in track cycling - women elite keirin for Hong Kong at the Asian Cycling Championships in Japan. Mr Cheung King-lok clinches three golds and two silvers, including one silver in a joint effort with teammate Mr Leung Chun-wing. The mercury falls to 3.1 degrees Celsius in the coldest day since 1957. Temperatures as low as minus 6 degrees are recorded on Tai Mo Shan. Frost, rime, icing, freezing rain and ice pellets are widespread on high ground and observed in the New Territories.
Hong Kong Tramways launches the territory's first sightseeing tram, numbered 68. The open-top tram gives a one-hour tour between Sheung Wan and Causeway Bay, looping through Happy Valley.
The Department of Justice says it will not initiate criminal proceedings against a former Independent Commission Against Corruption commissioner, Mr Timothy Tong Hin-ming, citing insufficient evidence, bringing to an end an investigation started by the ICAC in May 2013.
Ms Christy Leung Yi wins Hong Kong's first medal at the quadrennial National Winter Games, with a bronze in figure skating - women's individual free skating in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Hong Kong first took part in 1999.
The Legislative Council (LegCo) approves an extra $5.4 billion for the construction of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao bridge, taking the total cost estimate to $35.9 billion.
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