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January
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2 |
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The Land Development
Corporation announces a seven-year redevelopment plan involving 26
projects, affecting some 40 000 people, with a total
cost of more than $80 billion. The aim is to replace decades-old buildings
and to improve the urban environment. |
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5 |
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The Chief Secretary
for Administration, Mrs Anson Chan, pays her first post-Handover visit
to Beijing on the invitation of HKMAO Director, Mr Liao Hui. |
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8 |
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The HKSAR Government
says it will scrap the port of first asylum policy. |
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9 |
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The Housing
Authority announces details of the Tenants Purchase Scheme under which
tenants receiving some social service payments can buy the flats they
are renting. |
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10 |
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The Chief Secretary
for Administration leads a high-powered delegation on a 12-day visit
to promote Hong Kong in the United States and Canada. |
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12 |
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The first legal
year after the Handover opens. |
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16 |
|
The government
appoints members to the SAR's Commission on Strategic Development
which will advise the Chief Executive on Hong Kong's long-term development.
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| |
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The government
withdraws the Tamar Basin Reclamation Site from the land sale programme.
The site is earmarked for the relocation of the existing Government
Secretariat. |
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20 |
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The government
agrees to pay Hongkong Telecom $6.7 billion as compensation for terminating
its exclusive international telephone service licence on March 31,
1998. It was scheduled to expire in October 2006. |
| |
|
The Chief Executive,
Mr. Tung Chee Hwa, meets the British Secretary of State for Foreign
and Commonwealth Affairs, Mr Robin Cook, who visits Hong Kong after
a trip to the Mainland. Their discussions cover the regional financial
turmoil, Vietnamese boat people and the Legco elections. |
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23 |
|
Hong Kong SAR
and the United Kingdom sign an agreement on mutual legal assistance
in criminal matters. It is the fourth agreement that Hong Kong has
signed on international co-operation against crime. The other three
were signed with Australia, France and the US. |
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25 |
|
The Secretary
for Justice, Miss Elsie Leung, decides to sue the Oriental Daily News
and the Oriental Press Group for contempt of court after the paper
launches a 24-hour surveillance on Mr Justice Godfrey of the Court
of Appeal and prints a series of articles claiming government persecution.
Editor Thomas Wong Yeung-ng is sentenced on June 30 to four months'
gaol for contempt of court. |
|
26 |
|
The Court of
First Instance rules that the amended Immigration Ordinance, which
denies the right of abode to mainland children born before their parents
become permanent Hong Kong residents, violates the Basic Law. The
Department of Justice decides to appeal against the decision. Many
fear that the ruling will open migration floodgates. |
| |
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The government
introduces a new honours and awards system to recognise outstanding
individuals who have made meritorious contributions to the community.
The new system is: the Order of the Grand Bauhinia; the Order of the
Bauhinia Star; the Order of the Medal of Honour; the Order of the
Medal for Bravery; and the Chief Executive's Commendation. |
|
27 |
|
The North Point-Kowloon
City vehicular ferry service terminates after more than 30 years service.
|
|
30 |
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A Citybus double
decker overturns at the Tonnochy Road flyover in Wan Chai on the third
day of the Lunar New Year. Three people die and 54 are injured. |