ENG-1998 — Page 19

CALENDAR OF EVENTS IN 1998

13

17

18

20

25

26

28

30

31

April

2

7

8

9

222

23

Nominations for the Election Committee subsector elections start and will last until the 20th; 1 107 nominations are received.

The Executive Council approves the extension of the franchise of Star Ferry to operate the Tsim Sha Tsui and Central route and the Tsim Sha Tsui and Wan Chai route for further 10 years. A franchise to operate a third route between Hung Hom and Central is given for one year.

The Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation signs agreements with the Chase Manhattan Bank and Dao Heng Bank on the implementation of a pilot scheme of fixed-rate mortgages.

The government announces the appointment of the Chief Executive's Commission on Innovation and Technology. The former Chancellor at the University of California, Berkeley, Professor Tien Changlin, is appointed chairman of the Commission. The Secretary for Justice and the Vice-Premier reach an understanding in Beijing on exchanging legal documents on civil matters between the Mainland and the SAR. The Executive Council endorses the final recommendations in the Territorial Development Strategy Review which outlines the development of Hong Kong in the next century regarding land use, transport and environmental protection. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Grenville Cross, leads a delegation from the Department of Justice on a 10-day legal study visit to Beijing, Harbin and Dalian. The Chief Secretary for Administration leads a Hong Kong delegation to a meeting in Guangzhou on the strengthening of co-operation between Guangdong Province and the SAR. The Chief Executive, the Guangdong Governor, Mr Lu Ruihua, and the Director of HKMAO, Mr Liao Hui, jointly officiate at the opening of the meeting.

The Director of Water Supplies, Mr Hu Man-shiu, announces a $2.36 billion interest- free loan to Guangdong under a deal to help fund the construction of a closed aqueduct system to improve water quality of the East River.

The Executive Council grants the New World Group a franchise to operate 88 former China Motor Bus routes from September 1998 to July 2003.

The Court of Appeal upholds the legality of the Certificate of Entitlement scheme and rules that mainland children, including illegitimate ones, who are born to Hong Kong permanent resident parents, have the right of abode in Hong Kong if they arrived before July 1, 1997. On May 20 it overturns a Court of First Instance decision and rules that a parent must be a permanent resident at the time of a child's birth if the offspring is to qualify for the right of abode.

The Provisional Legislative Council passes the Adaptation of Laws (Interpretative Provisions) Bill under which 'Crown' privileges will be replaced by 'State' privileges. The amendment exempts various mainland organisations from some Hong Kong laws. The Provisional Legislative Council sits for the last time, having completed its term. A new Information Technology and Broadcasting Bureau comes into effect, replacing the Broadcasting, Culture and Sport Bureau.

The Commissioner for Labour, Ms Jacqueline Willis, attends the High-Level Tripartite Meeting in Bangkok on social responses to the financial crisis in East and Southeast Asian countries .

The first central slaughter facility, a poultry stall at the Western Wholesale Food Market, for live ducks and other water birds starts operation under a new policy requiring the segregation of live chickens and water birds.

May

1

A ban on the importation of waterfowl from the mainland following the avian flu scare is lifted.

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