ENG-2007 — Page 31

Calendar of Events in 2007 vii

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The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Professor K C Chan, pays his first official visit to Vietnam to promote Hong Kong as an international financial centre and preferred listing venue.

An international study, 'The Progress in International Reading Literacy Study' (PIRLS) 2006, announces that the performance of Hong Kong students has improved greatly, placing them second in the PIRLS list, up from 14th place in 2001.

The Secretary for Justice addresses experts at a conference entitled 'Mediation in Hong Kong: The Way Forward' to promote dispute resolution methods that can strengthen Hong Kong's position as a global financial centre.

The HKSAR Government and the European Commission hold their first Structured Dialogue meeting in Hong Kong. They agree to continue enhancing understanding and cooperation on economic, trade and regulatory issues of mutual interest.

December

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10

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12

Hong Kong's two railway systems, MTR and the Kowloon-Canton Railway, merge.

Former senior civil servant, Mrs Anson Chan, is elected to the Legislative Council to replace Mr Ma Lik who died on August 8, 2007.

The Government announces the appointment of 16 members to the newly set up Family Council chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration.

Hong Kong, Mainland and Macao authorities hold a joint exercise to test their readiness in tackling an avian flu outbreak.

An international study, The Programme for International Student Assessment, carried out by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, shows Hong Kong schoolchildren outclass most of their overseas counterparts in maths, reading and science.

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Henry Tang, and the Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Mr Li Gang, officiate at the launching of the 'Delegation of Hong Kong Students National Education Programme Series'.

The Financial Secretary, Mr John C Tsang, leads a high-level business mission to India to forge closer economic ties between Hong Kong and India.

The HKSAR Government submits a report on the outcome of the public consultation on the Green Paper on Constitutional Development to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.