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SCMP Reporter

In Hong Kong

1960: Cary Grant spoke to the press after he tried to slip into Hong Kong unnoticed. The British-born actor was in town to find a beautiful Chinese girl for a part in his new film, One

Arabian Night.

1962: Elisabeth Green, a long-time resident and the colony's ladies singles tennis champion of 1916-17, died at her residence in Ho Man Tin. She was 89.

1966: An average of almost two people a day committed suicide in Hong Kong in 1965. In the previous year, three people killed themselves every two days, according to a report by the Hong Kong Samaritans.

1970: Scenes showing exploding firecrackers were cut from the Shaw Brothers film Ripple before its release in local cinemas. Firecrackers had been banned since the 1967 disturbances.

1974: Last year's weather shattered a dozen Royal Conservatory records, according to a report. Up to 3,100mm of rain fell in 1973 - 40 per cent above average.

Around the world

1784: The United States ratified a peace treaty with Britain, formally ending the American War of Independence.

1858: Felice Orsini's plot to assassinate French emperor Napoleon III was uncovered.

1907: An earthquake in Jamaica destroyed Kingston and killed 1,000 people.

1942: US forces under General Douglas MacArthur resisted Japanese attacks on Bataan in the Philippines in World War II.

1943: Allied leaders met in Casablanca, Morocco, to agree on a strategy for the ending of World War II, and to demand the unconditional surrender of the Axis powers.

1953: Marshal Josip Broz Tito was elected the first president of the Republic of Yugoslavia.

1958: Australia's Qantas Empire Airways launched the first round-the-world air service.

1962: At least 36 Algerians and Europeans were killed in disorder and terrorist attacks in Algeria's major cities.

1965: The prime ministers of Ireland and Northern Ireland met for the first time in 43 years.

1969: The Soviet spacecraft Soyuz 4 was launched, followed the next day by Soyuz 5; they achieved the first docking of two manned craft in Earth orbit.

1980: The United Nations

General Assembly approved a motion calling for the immediate withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan following the Soviet invasion in the previous December.

1990: Azerbaijani attacks on Armenians left at least two dozen people dead in Baku, in the Soviet Union.

1995: In Colombia, leftist rebels killed six policemen and three other people.

1997: In Cairo, Egypt, a bus smashed through a metal fence and plunged 35 metres into the River Nile. At least 39 people died.

1998: The UN Security Council rebuked Iraq for not giving arms inspectors full access. Iraq accused a US inspector of spying.

2000: Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines agreed to pay Alaska US$3.5 million (HK$27 million) for dumping toxic chemicals into the state's waters.



Today in history