ENG-1996 — Page 21

CALENDAR OF EVENTS IN 1996

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recognition of Hong Kong's status as a leading and autonomous international financial centre.

The Governor chairs his third summit meeting to address unemployment and to discuss training programmes for local workers. The session concludes with a government commitment to raise local workers' skills, clamp down further on illegal workers, and to establish a generally accepted scheme for labour importation.

The British Minister with responsibility for Hong Kong, Mr Jeremy Hanley, visits the territory to update himself on the latest developments.

The Secretary for Health and Welfare, Mrs Katherine Fok, leaves for Auckland to attend the 18th World Congress of Rehabilitation International.

A total of 5 791 people nominate themselves for the 400 positions available on the Selection Committee that will choose the HKSAR's first Chief Executive and members of the Provisional Legislature.

The Director-General of Trade, Mr Alan Lai, leaves on a four-day visit to Beijing and Dalian to further contacts between the Trade Department and corresponding mainland authorities.

The Sino-British Joint Liaison Group, meeting in Beijing, endorses an agreement reached by commercial parties to the Container Terminal No. 9 project on the rationalisation of berths at Kwai Chung.

Hong Kong launches its first promotion in Australia, which is staged in Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne. It aims to strengthen economic and trade links and boost Australian confidence in the territory's future. Programmes feature business seminars, luncheons, discussions with business leaders and a pop concert. The Chief Secretary, Mrs Anson Chan, leads a delegation of businessmen and senior officials to the country. She officiates at the opening of Hong Kong House in Sydney, home to the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, the Trade Development Council and the Hong Kong Tourist Association.

Activist Mr David Chan Yuk-cheung drowns during a protest trip to the Diaoyu Islands, ownership of which is disputed by China, Japan and Taiwan.

The Financial Secretary, Mr Donald Tsang, leaves for Washington to attend the 1996 annual meetings of the boards of governors of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

British and Chinese team leaders in the Sino-British Joint Liaison Group sign an agreement on the handover ceremony for Hong Kong, which will take place around midnight on June 30, 1997.

The Chief Secretary, Mrs Anson Chan, calls on Australian Prime Minister John Howard. Mr Howard assures her that his government will do everything possible to facilitate travel of Hong Kong people to Australia.