ENG-2017 — Page 27

Calendar of Events

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The first Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Hong Kong is unveiled, comprising 20 items, to provide a basis for prioritising resources and safeguarding measures.

Under a New Parking Meter System Trial Scheme, 20 new parking meters, covering about 60 parking spaces in Sai Kung and Wan Chai, begin to accept fee payment through contactless credit cards issued by local banks, including Visa, MasterCard and UnionPay, in addition to Octopus.

The Wi-Fi.HK pilot Public-Private Collaboration project is rolled out at government venues, offering free public Wi-Fi through private service providers. A new Wi-Fi service is also launched at the youth service centres and study rooms of non-profit- making organisations through a government subsidy scheme to facilitate internet learning by students outside schools.

Hong Kong breaks its medal record at the biennial Summer Universiade in Taipei, with Ms Siobhan Bernadette Haughey adding a pair of golds in the 100m and 200m freestyle to the city's two bronzes in tennis and wushu. Hong Kong's previous best showing was in Belgrade in 2009, with two golds. The first games were held in 1923.

Mr Jason Hak Shun-yat triumphs at the Yunnan Championship in Kunming with a 10-stroke lead and 22-under par, Hong Kong's first victory in the China Tour series, which started in 2014.

Ahead of the arrival of Super Typhoon Hato, temperatures at the Observatory soar to 36.6 degrees, breaking the previous record of 36.3 degrees, logged on 8 August 2015 under the effect of Severe Typhoon Soudelor near Taiwan.

Hato whips up gusts as strong as 193km/h, triggering the Hurricane Signal No 10 after Vicente in 2012, York in 1999 and Ellen in 1983. The approach of Hato coincides with high tides, bringing floods to coastal areas including Tai O, Shek Pik, Mui Wo, Cheung Chau, Heng Fa Chuen, Siu Sai Wan, Lei Yue Mun, Tseung Kwan O, Sha Tin, Tai Po, Sai Kung, Yuen Long and Lau Fau Shan. It is followed within five days by Pakhar, warranting the fourth No 8 tropical cyclone signal of the year. By the year end, the No 8 signal has been issued five times, equalling the records of 1964 and 1999.

The Court of Final Appeal dismisses applications by two LegCo members-elect, Mr Leung Chung-hang and Ms Yau Wai-ching, for leave to appeal against the Court of First Instance's ruling that the oaths they purportedly took in 2016 contravened the Basic Law and the Oaths and Declarations Ordinance and were invalid. This court decision comes after the Court of Appeal on 16 January rejected the pair's applications for leave to appeal to the Court of Final Appeal.

Badminton athletes Ms Chau Hoi-wah and Mr Lee Chun-hei win Hong Kong's first doubles medal at the BWF World Championships in Glasgow, with a bronze in mixed doubles. The championships started in 1977.

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