Hong Kong, China was on July 9 elected vice-chair of the World Customs Organisation for the first time, with responsibilities covering the Far East, South and Southeast Asia, Australasia and the Pacific Islands.

Elections were held on July 9 to choose the 800 people to form the Election Committee to return six legislators in the 2000 Legislative Council elections in September.

Two people died and 46 were injured after Mainland claimants seeking the right of abode in Hong Kong set fire to an office in the Immigration Tower on August 2. One of those who died was a Senior Immigration Officer, while 23 Immigration Department staff were injured.

Hong Kong was ranked first in the world for international air cargo by volume by the Airport Council International. Hong Kong ranked second in the world for total air cargo throughput after Memphis International.

Hong Kong University Vice-Chancellor Cheng Yiu-chung and a Pro-Vice-Chancellor Wong Siu-lun resigned on September 6, following allegations that they had tried to inhibit the academic freedom of a university academic carrying out public opinion surveys on the government. During a public hearing into the matter, both men vigorously denied they had tried to restrict the polling work.

More than 1.33 million people voted in the Legislative Council elections on September 10. The turnout rate was 43.57%, compared to 53.29% in the 1998 polls.

But legislator-elect Gary Cheng resigned his Hong Kong Island seat on September 19 following revelations before the election that he had not declared business interests in a public relations consultancy during his previous term as a legislator and that he had passed on to clients a confidential government document and internal papers from his party, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong. On May 31, the Independent Commission Against Corruption laid five charges against Mr Cheng, including accepting an advantage as a public servant.

Subsequently, independent candidate Audrey Eu, a prominent barrister, was elected to fill the gap after a by-election on December 10 that attracted six candidates. Turnout rate was 33.27%, after 208 672 of the 630 000 registered voters cast their ballots.

Hong Kong was voted Asia's best destination in a survey conducted by the prestigious tourism industry magazine Travel & Leisure in September. Hong Kong had also been ranked second-most popular tourist destination in Asia (after Singapore) by Belgian-based Union des Association Internationales.

Hong Kong took part in its first Olympic Games as 'Hong Kong, China' at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney in September. Hong Kong's team of 31 athletes was the strongest sent to an Olympic Games.

In October, Hong Kong was elected President of the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering for 2001/2002. This was a recognition of Hong Kong's ongoing efforts to combat money laundering.

Following US Congress approval, US President Bill Clinton on October 10 signed a bill into law that granted Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status to China and removed one of the last obstacles to China's accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The PNTR legislation was welcomed by local and US businessmen who see great opportunities arising from a Mainland market more closely aligned with the multi-lateral trading system.

Customs and Excise Department officers on October 18 discovered 26 illegal immigrants hiding inside a container en route from the Mainland via Hong Kong to the US west coast port of Long Beach.

The US Government on November 1 removed Hong Kong from its list of 'major drug transit countries/entities' in recognition of vigorous and ongoing efforts in Hong Kong against drug smuggling and money laundering.

For the seventh consecutive year, Hong Kong was ranked the World's Freest Economy by the influential Heritage Foundation of the US in its annual ratings released in November.

After a year-long campaign, Hong Kong lost its bid to host the 2006 Asian Games following a vote by the Olympic Council of Asia at Pusan in Korea on November 12. Doha, the capital of Qatar, was chosen ahead of Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and New Delhi.

The Mandatory Provident Fund - a compulsory retirement savings scheme - was launched on December 1.Under the plan, all employees and employers would each have to contribute 5% of monthly salary, up to a maximum of HK$1,000 (US$128) a month, into the employees provident fund account.

Police smashed an international people smuggling ring on December 10 after arresting 12 Mainland illegal immigrants hiding inside a cargo container due to leave for the United States. Following the arrest of the illegal immigrants, 11 other people, including the alleged ringleaders, were arrested by Organised Crime and Triad Bureau officers.

Figures released on December 18 showed that more than 3000 international companies were using Hong Kong as a regional headquarters or office as at June 1, 2000 - a 20% increase over the previous year.

And a study by the Political and Economic Risk Consultancy found that Hong Kong, for the sixth consecutive year, was the least discriminating place in Asia for foreign investment.

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