ENG-1996 — Page 19

CALENDAR OF EVENTS IN 1996

July

1

3

5

13

16

26

27

29

31

August

9

The Chief Secretary, Mrs Anson Chan, pays a three-day visit to London. She meets the British Prime Minister to discuss latest developments in Hong Kong.

The Exchange Fund Advisory Committee approves in principle the setting up of a mortgage corporation, initially to be owned by the government. It will buy mortgage loans for its own portfolio and issue mortgage-backed securities.

The Governor leaves for Brussels and London. He will meet the President of the European Commission, Mr Jacques Santer, and the President of the European Parliament, Mr Klaus Hansch. In London he will meet the Prime Minister and Foreign Office officials.

The Director-General of Industry, Mrs Regina Ip, departs for a four- day visit to Toronto in a bid to attract overseas industrialists to invest in Hong Kong.

A comprehensive planning framework for Hong Kong up to the year 2011 is spelt out in a consultative document on a territorial development strategy review.

The Commander of the future PLA garrison in Hong Kong, Major- General Liu Zhenwu, makes his first visit to Hong Kong, where he meets Major-General Dutton and visits units of the Royal Navy, the Army and the Royal Air Force.

The government publishes the Town Planning White Bill, which seeks to make the statutory planning process more accountable to the public and more effective in guiding developments towards a more efficient land use pattern. Two months are allowed for public inspection.

Locally enlisted Chinese soldiers of the Hong Kong Military Service Corps become British Army pistol shooting champions after nine days of competition at Bisley Ranges, England.

The local telecommunications market will expand significantly after the Sino-British Joint Liaison Group agrees to the issuing of six personal communications services licences.

In Atlanta, USA, windsurfer Miss Lee Lai-shan wins Hong Kong's first gold medal in its Olympic history.

The underlying foreign currency reserves held in the Exchange Fund rank the seventh-largest in the world at the end of June.

The Acting Governor, Mrs Anson Chan, announces the setting up of a fund for athletic development in recognition of Hong Kong's Olympic success. It will give one dollar for every dollar contributed by the community. The government's commitment is capped initially at $8 million.