ENG-2011 — Page 17

Calendar of Events 2011 iii

19

May

1

2

5

13

17

18

23-26

25

27-30

29

30-31

The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau, leads a delegation to Beijing to exchange views with the National Nuclear Safety Administration of the Ministry of Environmental Protection.

The Minimum Wage Ordinance goes into effect with an initial minimum wage rate of $28 an hour.

The Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, leaves for Canada, Chile and Brazil to study health care, and the fisheries, agricultural and poultry industries, and to attend the World Health Assembly in Geneva. The Chief Secretary for Administration leads a government delegation to Chengdu, Sichuan to meet officials and attend a ceremony marking the completion of a number of post-earthquake reconstruction projects funded by the HKSAR Government.

The Legislative Council's Finance Committee approves a $5 billion injection into the Community Care Fund to help Hong Kong people in need.

A Hong Kong-Taiwan Cultural Co-operation Forum is held in Hong Kong to promote co-operation between the arts sector and creative industries, and to foster the development of creative brands in the region.

Hong Kong is ranked the world's most competitive economy for the first time by the International Institute for Management Development in the 2011 World Competitiveness Yearbook, alongside the US.

The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Professor K C Chan, leads a delegation to Indonesia and Malaysia for a joint. roadshow with the Shanghai Municipal Government Financial Services Office to promote financial co-operation between Shanghai and Hong Kong and the development of RMB business.

The Secretary for the Environment leaves for France and Austria to learn more about European geological conservation and waste treatment facilities before proceeding to Brazil to attend the C40 Large Cities Climate Summit in Sao Paulo.

The Secretary for Development leads a 250-member Hong Kong delegation to Luoyang in Henan Province for the 2011 Mainland and Hong Kong Construction Industry Forum.

...

The Secretary for Food and Health receives a Director-General's special recognition award at the 'World No Tobacco Day 2011 Regional Launching and Award Ceremony' organised in Hong Kong by the World Health Organisation.

The Secretary for Transport and Housing, Ms Eva Cheng, leads a shipping delegation to South Korea to promote Hong Kong as an international maritime centre and premier port hub.