ENG-2018 — Page 24

Calendar of Events

2018

24

29

30

August

9

15

The HKMA and the three note-issuing banks, Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong), Bank of China (Hong Kong) and the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, unveil the 2018 banknote series, depicting Hong Kong as a global financial centre, the Hong Kong Unesco Global Geopark, Cantonese opera, butterflies and yum cha. For the first time, each denomination carries the same graphic theme across all three banks for easy recognition by users. The HK$1,000 and HK$500 notes are put into circulation on 12 December 2018 and 23 January 2019 respectively, while the HK$100, HK$50 and HK$20 notes will enter circulation between mid-2019 and early 2020.

The Sai Yeung Choi Street South pedestrian precinct in Mong Kok, designated a part- time pedestrian area in 2000, hosts its final street performances before it is abolished. a week later to ease noise and light pollution and street obstruction. The roads reopen for round-the-clock vehicular traffic.

Fantastic Television Limited, a domestic free-television programme service licensee, launches its English service, Hong Kong International Business Channel.

A steering committee chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration is formed. to coordinate and oversee major events organised by the government to mark the 40th anniversary of the reform and opening up of the country.

The Chief Executive attends the first plenary meeting of the Leading Group for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as a member in Beijing. The meeting is hosted and convened by the Vice-Premier of the State Council, Mr Han Zheng, to discuss work priorities for the next stage of the Greater Bay Area development.

18-Sep 2 Hong Kong excels in the Asian Games with a record haul of 46 medals, comprising eight golds, 18 silvers and 20 bronzes, in Jakarta and Palembang in Indonesia. Equestrian Jacqueline Siu Wing-ying, competing in the individual dressage, and the men's rugby sevens team clinch Hong Kong's first golds in these events, while track cyclist Sarah Lee and gymnast Shek Wai-hung defend their titles respectively in the women's keirin and sprint and the men's vault. The other gold winners are squash player Leo Au Chun-ming in the men's singles; women's squash team Annie Au Wing- chi, Chan Ho-ling, Ho Tsz-lok and Lee Ka-yi; and track cyclists Cheung King-lok and Leung Chun-wing in the men's madison. The medal tally tops the 43 won in Incheon, Korea, in 2014.

22

28

31

The Technology Talent Scheme is rolled out on a pilot basis for five years to subsidise research organisations in recruiting R&D personnel and training their staff to apply advanced technology to their businesses.

The government promulgates the first Talent List of Hong Kong, containing 11 professions, to attract quality people from round the world in a focused manner to support the city's development as a high value-added and diversified economy.

The Chief Executive meets the Federal Chancellor of Austria, Mr Sebastian Kurz, at

Government House.

viii