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SCMP Reporter

In Hong Kong

1962: Developers announced construction of the Summit Court luxury housing project, off Tin Hau Temple Road in North Point. The $15 million project consisted of four identical 20-storey blocks. Flat prices ranged from $99,000 to $126,000.

1964: Malaysian Prime Minister Tengku Abdul Rahman arrived here on his way to Tokyo and a summit meeting with a Philippine mediator for talks aimed at the withdrawal of Indonesian guerillas from Malaysian territory.

1967: British pop group The Shadows cancelled an upcoming show because of recent disturbances here. Rhythm guitarist Bruce Welch said: 'We were warned Hong Kong was the new trouble spot in Asia and we did not want to be involved in anti-British demonstrations.'

1969: Rosemary Ann Howlett, 20, was released by Chinese authorities after spending a night on the mainland. The British nurse, who was holidaying in Hong Kong, had wandered into Chinese territory near Shau Tau Kok while looking for a beach.

Around the world

323BC: Alexander III the Great, king of Macedonia and one of history's greatest military leaders, died in Babylon.

1381: The Peasants' Revolt, a popular uprising led by Wat Tyler sparked by the implementation of a poll tax, began in Britain.

1886: Louis II (German Ludwig II), king of Bavaria (1864-86), died. Renowned for his extravagant building projects, he was declared insane three days before he drowned himself at Starnberger See in Germany.

1893: The first women's golf tournament was held at Royal Lytham, England.

1900: The Boxer Rebellion began in China. The secret society was dedicated to ending the domination and exploitation of the country by foreigners.

1917: Fourteen German Gotha bombers carried out the first large-scale bombing raid by planes on London, killing 162. The only previous aerial bombs were dropped by Zeppelins.

1951: Joseph Benedict (Ben) Chifley, one of Australia's greatest prime ministers (1945-49) and leader of the Australian Labor Party (1945-51), died.

1971: Geraldine Brodrick gave birth to nine babies in Australia, one of the few recorded instances of nonuplets. None lived.

1983: The American spacecraft Pioneer 10 crossed the orbit of Neptune, becoming the first man-made object to leave the solar system.

1990: East Germany began the final demolition of the Berlin Wall, knocking out concrete slabs all over the city to re-open streets sealed off since the Cold War barrier was built in 1961.

1994: North Korea announced its withdrawal from the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency; it would no longer permit UN inspectors into the country.

1996: Copper prices tumbled around the world after Sumitomo Corporation said it had lost an estimated $2.6 billion over 10 years from unauthorised copper trades. The trader responsible was sentenced to eight years in jail in March 1998.

2000: Italy granted clemency to Turkish gunman Mehmet Ali Agca, jailed in 1981 for the attempted assassination of Pope John Paul. He was later jailed in Italy for a 1979 murder.



Today in history