Calendar of Events
2020
April
1
8
222
25
May
5
8
00
12
15
25
Mobile network operators launch commercial 5G services in Hong Kong.
The government announces a $137.5 billion package of relief measures to support individuals and businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the introduction of an Employment Support Scheme worth over $80 billion. The funding is in addition to the $120 billion package announced in the Budget and the $30 billion for the first round of the Anti-epidemic Fund, and is approved by the Legislative Council Finance Committee on 18 April.
New measures are introduced, requiring all travellers arriving at Hong Kong International Airport to be tested for COVID-19 at the Temporary Specimen Collection Centre at Asia-World Expo.
All travellers arriving at Hong Kong International Airport are to be tested for COVID-19 and await results at a designated location.
Asia's first heart transplant using the new Organ Care System is successfully performed at Queen Mary Hospital. The new preservation technology can keep the heart warm, beating and supplied with blood during transplant surgery, and expand the pool of heart organs for donation.
The government announces it will distribute free reusable face masks to all Hong Kong citizens.
In the light of the reduced number of COVID-19 confirmed cases in the preceding weeks, the government relaxes some social distancing measures in accordance with a 'suppress and lift' strategy, including increasing the permitted number of persons in group gatherings in public places from four to eight. The government reviews the epidemic situation as and when necessary, usually at an interval of seven to 14 days. Social distancing measures are subsequently tightened and relaxed throughout the year in response to the situation.
The free trade agreement between Hong Kong and the Association of Southeast. Asian Nations (ASEAN) comes into force for the Philippines.
The Independent Police Complaints Council submits its Thematic Study Report on the Public Order Events arising from the Fugitive Offenders Bill since June 2019 and the Police Actions in Response to the Chief Executive, who says the government accepts its 52 recommendations.
The first tranche of the Employment Support Scheme, providing subsidies to eligible employers and self-employed persons, opens for application. By the close of the application period on 14 June, 169,000 applications from employers and 260,000 from self-employed persons have been received.
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