ENG-1997 — Page 19

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS IN 1997

Sixty-eight people, most of them children in a school bus, are injured in a traffic accident in Tuen Mun Road.

The Executive Council approves the manner in which the SAR Government should deal with land leases according to the Basic Law and the Joint Declaration. New leases will be granted at a term of 50 years and subjected to an annual rent equivalent to three per cent of the rateable value of the property.

The government announces a five-year land disposal programme, which gives detailed plans for the first two years and a forecast for the following three years.

The Provisional Legislative Council passes a Bill to suspend four ordinances three on labour and one on the Bill of Rights passed by the pre-Handover Legislative Council at its last sitting of the 1996/97 session.

The HKSAR's Economic and Trade Office in London is opened. The Chief Executive receives formal authorisation from the Central Government for the SAR Government to negotiate visa abolition agreements with other countries.

The government signs an air services agreement with the United Kingdom. It is Hong Kong's 22nd air services agreement and the first signed by the SAR Government.

Hong Kong's last evening paper, the New Evening Post, established in 1950, publishes its final issue.

The Court of Appeal rules that the Provisional Legislative Council is a legal body and laws it has passed have legal status.

The government announces the establishment of the

of the Elderly Commission. It is to advise on the formulation of a comprehensive policy for the elderly and co-ordinate the planning and development of various elderly programmes and services.

The new Director of the Xinhua News Agency HK Branch, Mr Jiang Enzhu, arrives to replace Mr Zhou Nan. He calls on the Chief Executive on August 14.

The Financial Secretary announces that Hong Kong will contribute US$1 billion towards a financing package organised by the IMF to assist Thailand in making economic adjustments. The amount will be taken from the foreign exchange fund.

A downpour in the north-east New Territories floods low-lying areas around Tai Po, affecting more than 1 000 homes and ruining crops. The State Council announces that the head of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, Mr Liao Hui, will take over from Mr Lu Ping as Director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office.

The first batch of 164 mainland children migrants issued with the newly introduced Certificate of Entitlement by the SAR Government arrives in Hong Kong.

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