ENG-2019 — Page 19

Calendar of Events

2019

The city ends its warmest winter to date, with a mean temperature of 19.1 degrees between December 2018 and February 2019, 2.1 degrees above normal, and only three cold days with minimum temperatures of 12 degrees or below, the fewest on record.

March

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25

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The Chief Executive attends the second plenary meeting of the Leading Group for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, hosted and convened by the Vice-Premier of the State Council, Mr Han Zheng, in Beijing. She welcomes the eight policy measures introduced by the CPG to help Hong Kong residents develop, work and live in Greater Bay Area cities and to strengthen the flow of people and goods within the area.

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung, attends the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council plenary meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, as Deputy Chairman of the People's Republic of China (PRC) delegation and elaborates on the full protection of human rights and freedom in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) under the Basic Law, Hong Kong Bill of Rights. Ordinance and other safeguards.

Two MTR trains collide near Central Station on the Tsuen Wan Line during non-traffic hours, causing services between Central and Admiralty stations to be suspended. The MTR Corporation puts aside $25 million for fare concessions to passengers under the Service Performance Arrangement.

The Chief Executive attends the China Development Forum, organised by the Development Research Centre of the State Council in Beijing.

The Intangible Cultural Heritage Funding Scheme is launched to support projects that strengthen the safeguarding, research and promotion of local intangible cultural heritage and education about it and support its transmission by local bearers and bearer organisations.

Hong Kong and Australia sign a free trade agreement and an investment agreement, which replaces the one inked in 1993.

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) grants the first three virtual banking licences in Hong Kong, followed by another five in April and May.

The Chief Executive attends the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference in Hainan.

The Fugitive Offenders and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2019 is published in the Gazette, with the first reading on 3 April in the Legislative Council (LegCo). The bill seeks to address a Taiwan homicide case and plug loopholes in Hong Kong's overall mechanism in juridical assistance.

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