Calendar of Events 2019
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Calendar of Events 2019 January 1 The non-means-tested Public Transport Fare Subsidy Scheme is launched, granting eligible commuters a subsidy of 25 per cent of actual public transport expenses in excess of $400, subject to a cap of $300 per month. 5 Cardinal John Tong Hon, Bishop Emeritus and immediate predecessor of Bishop Michael Yeung Ming-cheung, is appointed Apostolic Administrator of the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong after the death of Bishop Yeung two days earlier at the age of 73. 8 The Report of the Independent Review Committee on Hong Kong’s Franchised Bus Service is released in response to a traffic accident on Tai Po Road in February last year that killed 19 people and injured 65 others. The government pledges to take proactive steps to enhance the operational safety of franchised buses. 12 Ms Vivian Kong Man-wai becomes the first Hong Kong fencer to claim a world cup title, in the women’s epee at the International Fencing Federation’s (FIE) World Cup series in Havana, Cuba. 14 At the ceremonial opening of the legal year, the Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal, Mr Geoffrey Ma Tao-li, speaks about the important facets of Hong Kong’s legal system with a view to providing the necessary context to enable the public to properly appraise and comment on the work of the courts, in particular decisions on matters which greatly concern the community. He also emphasises that as contained in the Basic Law, Hong Kong’s legal system is characterised by an independent judiciary where judges are independent from any outside interference in the discharge of their constitutional duties, and the essence of fairness and justice also lies in everyone’s entitlement to equal treatment under the law. 20 The Xiqu Centre, the first major performance venue of the West Kowloon Cultural District, opens, followed by Freespace in June. 21-25 The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, attends the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland. She meets the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Mr Xavier Bettel; the Prime Minister of Vietnam, Mr Nguyen Xuan Phuc; and the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mr Mark Rutte, in Davos. 22 The Acting Chief Executive, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, presents a 103-strong Hong Kong delegation with the Regional Flag ahead of the 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games, to be held in March in the United Arab Emirates. 25 The US-based Heritage Foundation rates Hong Kong as the world’s freest economy for the 25th consecutive year. i Calendar of Events 2019 31 The Avenue of Stars reopens following a revitalisation project begun in October 2015. February 5-7 Hong Kong experiences its warmest Lunar New Year since records began in 1884, registering a new high of 21.8 degrees Celsius in mean temperature across the first three days, with the third day reaching up to 25.8 degrees. 9-10 Ms Vivian Kong wins her second gold medal of the FIE World Cup series in a month, triumphing in Barcelona, Spain, and later becomes the first Hong Kong fencer to be ranked world No 1. Mr Cheung Ka-long captures the first Hong Kong men’s foil medal, a silver, at the FIE Grand Prix series in Turin, Italy, a day after Ms Kong’s victory. 11 The government announces the decision to switch off analogue television services at 11.59pm on 30 November 2020 and the full digitalisation of TV broadcasting in Hong Kong at 12am on 1 December. 13 The Hong Kong, China-Georgia Free Trade Agreement enters into force, the first with a country in Caucasus. The government invites the public to provide views on its proposed amendments to the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Ordinance and the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance. 18 The Central People’s Government (CPG) promulgates the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. 19 The Chief Executive in Council approves an expansion of the terms of reference of the Commission of Inquiry into the Construction Works at and near the Hung Hom Station Extension under the Shatin to Central Link Project, to cover construction works at the North Approach Tunnels, South Approach Tunnels and Hung Hom Stabling Sidings under the same works contract and related matters. The commission submits an interim report based on the original terms of reference to the Chief Executive on 25 February. 24 The 4.5km Central-Wan Chai Bypass and Island Eastern Corridor Link is fully commissioned, shortening the drive between Central and North Point to about five minutes. 27 The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan Mo-po, in his 2019-20 Budget, announces measures to relieve people’s burden and support enterprises to help counter challenges facing Hong Kong’s economy. At the Union Cycliste Internationale’s Track Cycling World Championships in Pruszkow, Poland, Ms Sarah Lee Wai-sze becomes the first Hong Kong cyclist to own three rainbow jerseys, which denote world champion in a cycling discipline, by winning the women’s sprint and keirin events, six years after getting her first rainbow jersey in the time trial. 28 The Chief Executive opens the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Bangkok, the government’s third office in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region. She also meets the Prime Minister of Thailand, Mr Prayut Chan-o-cha. ii 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 1 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. 15 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. 18 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. 25 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. 26 Hong Kong and Australia sign a free trade agreement and an investment agreement, which replaces the one inked in 1993. 27 The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) grants the first three virtual banking licences in Hong Kong, followed by another five in April and May. 28 The Chief Executive attends the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference in Hainan. 29 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. iii Calendar of Events 2019 31 The mean temperature and mean maximum and minimum temperatures between January and March are 19.7 degrees, 22.1 degrees and 18.1 degrees respectively, all the highest on record for the same period. April 1 The Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme is implemented fully to regulate indemnity hospital insurance plans offered to individuals by participating insurance companies and to facilitate consumer use of private healthcare services. 2 The Chief Executive meets the President of Panama, Mr Juan Carlos Varela Rodriguez, at Government House. Mr Varela Rodriguez is visiting to officiate at the opening of the Consulate General of Panama in Hong Kong. The Chief Secretary for Administration and the Mayor of the Shenzhen Municipal Government, Mr Chen Rugui, co-chair the Hong Kong/Shenzhen Cooperation Meeting in Shenzhen. 4 The Court of Final Appeal dismisses appeals arising from judicial review applications against the Director of Immigration’s refusal to grant extensions of permission to remain in Hong Kong to two foreign nationals, Ms Milagros Tecson Comilang and Ms Desiree Rante Luis, to take care of their respective child in Hong Kong. The children, all minors, are Hong Kong permanent residents or have Hong Kong resident status. The court rules that if a person with no right to enter and remain in Hong Kong is able to overcome that position by relying on someone else’s rights, it would upset the Basic Law and the purpose of the immigration reservation in the Hong Kong Bill of Rights Ordinance. 7-9 The Chief Executive visits Tokyo to attend the Symposium on the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, organised jointly by the governments of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, and meets the Prime Minister of Japan, Mr Shinzo Abe.