ENG-2003 — Page 24

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS IN 2003

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The Chief Executive leaves for visits to London and Paris, for a series of meetings with business and political leaders and to attend the Annual Dinner of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council in London; he meets the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, on November 11 and the President of France, Mr Jacques Chirac, on November 12.

The Financial Secretary and the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Frederick Ma, officiate at the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd (HKEx) Representative Office in Beijing.

The Chief Executive announces that following approval from the State Council, the People's Bank of China will provide clearing arrangements for banks in Hong Kong to conduct personal renminbi business on a trial basis.

The Secretary for Justice concludes a visit to Canada in Vancouver, after first visiting Ottawa and Toronto.

A total of 1066 373 people vote in the 2003 District Council Election, representing a turnout rate of 44.10 per cent for the 326 contested constituencies; candidates in 74 of the 400 constituencies are returned unopposed.

December

فيا

3

7

11

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The Chief Executive briefs President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao on latest developments in Hong Kong during a duty visit to Beijing.

The West Kowloon Heliport, a temporary facility located at the southern tip of the reclamation, opens for domestic helicopter services.

The Secretary for Justice visits Nanjing and Shanghai, where she signs cooperation agreements on legal services between the Department of Justice and the respective Justice Bureaux.

The Secretary for Economic Development and Labour, Mr Stephen Ip, signs the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Tourism Cooperation Agreement with the Chairman of the Chinese National Tourism Administration, Mr He Guangwei.

The Financial Secretary welcomes the decline - from 8 per cent to 7.5 per in the unemployment rate during the September-November

cent

quarter.

The Chief Executive officiates at the opening of the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation's West Rail that links Kowloon and the north-west New Territories.

The Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands, Mr Michael Suen, in his capacity of Chairman of the Housing Authority, leads celebrations held at the Shek Kip Mei Estate to mark the 50th anniversary of Hong Kong's public housing programme.