ENG-2013 — Page 22

Calendar of Events

2013

September

1

3

4

12

18

19

25

28

The old swimming pool at Victoria Park closes. The first public swimming pool in Hong Kong when it opened in 1957, it is replaced by a new swimming pool complex of modern-day international standards on 16 September.

Hong Kong's Tai O Heritage Hotel wins an Award of Merit in the 2013 UNESCO Asia- Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation. The awards recognise the efforts of private individuals and organisations that have successfully restored and conserved structures and buildings of heritage value in the region.

Hong Kong is ranked the seventh most competitive economy in the world in the World Economic Forum's 2013-2014 Global Competitiveness Report, a rise of two places from the previous year.

The 12th National Games held in Liaoning Province end, with Hong Kong athletes winning one gold, three silver and three bronze medals.

A report by the Independent Review Committee on the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC)'s Regulatory Systems and Procedures for handling Official Entertainment, Gifts and Duty Visits is published, with certain parts redacted as the ICAC is investigating complaints against its former Commissioner, Mr Timothy Tong Hin-ming.

Hong Kong retains its ranking as the world's freest economy in the Fraser Institute's Economic Freedom of the World 2013 Annual Report.

To assist visually impaired passengers go through departure clearance, an e-Channel with a voice navigation function is opened at the Departure Hall of the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point, the Immigration Department's first such facility in Hong Kong.

An exhibition entitled Journey with You: Hong Kong Bus Story' opens at the Hong Kong Museum of History to mark the 80th anniversary of the establishment of Hong Kong's franchised bus services.

The Commission on Poverty publishes the first official poverty line, which is defined as half of the median monthly domestic household income prior to government intervention such as tax and social benefit transfers. Using this definition, in Hong Kong in 2012 the poor population was around 1.02 million (403,000 households), representing a poverty rate of 15.2 per cent.

October

5

6

15

The Chief Executive departs for Indonesia to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation 2013 Leaders' Week and other related meetings in Bali.

Two thousand swimmers take part in the annual cross-harbour race, with the winner, Christian Reichert from Germany, completing the 1.5 kilometre course from Lei Yue Mun to Quarry Bay in 15 minutes and 45 seconds.

The Chief Executive in Council approves in principle the applications of Fantastic Television Limited and HK Television Entertainment Company Limited for a domestic free television programme service licence, and rejects the application by Hong Kong Television Network Limited, saying it has decided that a gradual and orderly approach in introducing competition into the free TV market is prudent and in the

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